No Excess Fee

An attorney who entered into a contract with the public defender to handle a post-conviction matter sought a fee in excess of the agreed-upon amount of $1,500. The public defender appealed the order granting the excess fee. The Iowa Supreme Court reversed, concluding that the contractual agreement limited the fee. The lower court did not have the authority to order the public defender to pay more than the amount set forth in the contract. (Mike Frisch)