Hyon v. Selten

In Hyon v. Selten (2007) 152 Cal.App.4th 463, Division One of the Second District Court of Appeal reversed in part the trial court's summary judgment ruling in favor of Hyon. (Id. at p. 474.) The appellate court agreed with the trial court that the 1997 contract between Hyon, Colangelo, and National Legal Network was illegal and unenforceable because it constituted an unlawful attorney referral in violation of Business and Professions Code section 6155. (Selten, supra, at pp. 468-471.) Nevertheless, the appellate court concluded that Selten should have been permitted to pursue in quantum meruit the reasonable value of any lawful services provided to Hyon. (Id. at pp. 471-472.) On remand, the trial court conducted a bench trial on Selten's quantum meruit claim and entered judgment in favor of Selten for $736,809.13. Hyon appealed in pro. per. In an unpublished opinion filed in April 2011, Division One of the Second District Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court's order. (Hyon v. Selten (April 29, 2011, B218942) nonpub. opn..)