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Reference - Shady Lawyer

question 17

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Reference - Shady lawyer. Brice had a number of ethical issues come up in law school involving alleged cheating but managed to graduate because nothing was ever proven. Upon obtaining his law license, Brice enjoyed living "on the edge" and engaged in tactics that were at least questionable. One of his clients was an older gentleman, Sam, with significant assets and significant legal issues involving a messy divorce stemming from his involvement with a local dog groomer, Susie. Brice told Sam that he felt certain that he could arrange matters so that Sam could live happily in the Caribbean with Susie but that, in addition to paying a hefty legal fee, Sam would need to name Brice as a significant beneficiary in his will and give Brice power of attorney over his assets. Sam agreed to do so and gave Brice power of attorney, and changed his will to reflect that upon his death, Brice would receive half his estate. The other half went to Susie. Sam also paid the hefty fee Brice demanded. At that point Brice agreed to proceed with negotiations in the divorce. Shortly after the divorce, Sam had an unexpected heart attack and died immediately. Susie, the executor of the will, told Brice that she was reporting him to the state bar association and that he was not entitled to any sums from the estate. Brice told Susie that he knew that Susie had failed to pay income tax for all her dog grooming and that he was reporting her unless she kept her mouth shut and consented to the terms of the contract. Brice also said that in return for keeping his mouth shut, he wanted additional sums purportedly for his work on Sam's divorce. Assuming that Sam had paid all amounts validly due from the divorce proceeding, which of the following is true regarding Brice's attempt to obtain additional fees?

Definitions:

Fixed Cost

Costs that do not vary with the level of output or activity.

Output

The aggregate production of either goods or services by an organization, commercial sector, or the economy as a whole.

Diminishing Returns Effect

A principle in economics where increasing one factor of production, while keeping others constant, will at some point yield lower per-unit returns.

Variable Cost

Expenses that vary directly with the level of production output, such as raw materials, labor, and energy costs.