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of Fell & Spaulding to represent them in the action on a
contingency-fee basis. In their complaint, the plaintiffs sought
(1) compensatory damages in the sum of $3.7 million, together with
interest and costs for malpractice committed by Eckell, Sparks in
connection with the drafting of the 1989 will and the antenuptial
agreement (count I); (2) the sum of $340,270, together with
interest and costs for attorney’s fees incurred by the Glovers in
contesting the 1989 will (count II); (3) compensatory damages in
the form of reimbursement of the executrix’s commissions, bequests
to Ms. Hurley, and Eckell, Sparks’s attorney’s fees in the amount
of $547,500, together with interest and costs for malpractice
committed by Eckell, Sparks while representing decedent’s estate
(count III); (4) $857,000, together with treble damages, costs, and
reasonable attorney’s fees, for conduct by Eckell, Sparks that
violated the Federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations
Act (RICO) (count IV); and (5) punitive damages, alleging that
Eckell, Sparks’s conduct was “outrageous” and amounted to a “gross
and reckless disregard of the probable consequences and the harm
being inflicted on the Plaintiffs herein” (count V).
On August 8, 1995, the Glovers and the administrators pro tem.
entered into an agreement to provide a method for allocating any
amount recovered from the lawsuit against Eckell, Sparks, as well
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