NDTV ‘s Law Firm in US demands $1.7 million

New Delhi Television Ltd (NDTV)'s law firm, Sabharwal & Finkel hired to provide legal services in its fight with TAM Media’s parent Nielsen in the US has demanded a minimum of $1.7 million through the NewYork Court as retainership for its services from 25 May 2012 to 22 April 2013.

Sabharwal & Finkel, one of the two law firms which were fighting NDTV’s case in the US courts against TAM, has filed a legal complaint against it. According to the complaint, S&F and NDTV entered into a retainer agreement on 25 May 2012, pursuant to which S&F performed legal services for NDTV until 22 April 2013. However, it says it has not been paid for the same and has asked the court to intervene to ensure that its demand of a 'reasonable value' of its services inquantum meriut amounting to not less than $1.7 million is paid to it.

The complaint has been filed with the United Sates District Court-Southern District Court of New York on 6 June 2013, wherein the plaintiff has sought quantum meruit against NDTV.

According to the complaint NDTV officially terminated its retainer agreement with S&F on or about 22 April 2013 and confirmed it on or about May 2013, following this, the law firm was compelled to resort the legal course. The complaint accuses NDTV of transferring control of its representation to another law firm - Pepper Hamilton (PH) on or about 22 November 2012 without any information to S&F.

According to S&F, the transfer of control to Pepper Hamilton was contrary to the retainer agreement and to the very essence of contingent fee agreements. It further adds that the contract does not deal with contingent compensation on the hypothesis of success or failure by the other member of the bar.

Source: http://cablequest.org/news/international-news/item/2594-ndtv-%E2%80%98s-law-firm-in-us-demands-$1-7-million.html
Source: http://cablequest.org/news/international-news/item/2594-ndtv-%E2%80%98s-law-firm-in-us-demands-$1-7-million.html