Reference no: EM131657573

Question: Goldstein, an attorney, hired Patterson as a paralegal in her law firm. Goldstein orally agreed to pay Patterson an annual salary plus bonus wages calculated as 10 percent of Goldstein's attorney's fees from cases on which Patterson worked. At that time, Patterson did not know that the bonus arrangement violated the Florida Bar's Rules of Professional Conduct. When Goldstein failed to pay Patterson more than a portion of the bonus wages due under their agreement, Patterson pressed Goldstein for the unpaid bonuses. Goldstein promised that she would pay them, but stated that she could not put that promise into writing because of a problem with "the Bar." Goldstein thereafter refused to pay Patterson the remaining bonus wages due under their agreement. The employment relationship terminated, Patterson sued Goldstein for $87,300 in unpaid wages. Goldstein argued that the agreement was not enforceable against her because her own promise to pay Patterson the bonus wages was "unethical and thus void as against public policy." Will Goldstein's promise to give Patterson the bonus wages be enforced?