The relationship of attorney and client does not in and of itself create authority to buy, sell or make any contracts concerning real property unless expressly conferred by the client upon the attorney and to be effective must be in writing. Toomey v. Casey, 72 Or. 290, 295, 142 P. 621; Walk v. Hibberd, 65 Or. 497, 503, 133 P. 95; Welch v. Johnson, 93 Or. 591, 607, 183 P. 776, 184 P. 280; Union Central Life Ins. Co. v. Toliver, 152 Or. 185, 191, 52 P.2d 1129. There is no evidence in the record, written or otherwise, conferring authority upon Mr. Rhoten to exercise the option in behalf of Mr. Harvey to purchase or make any counteroffers to purchase the Hage property. Nor is there any evidence that Mr. Harvey in any way afterwards ratified what plaintiffs claim Mr. Rhoten did in Mr. Harvey's behalf.
Subsection (6) of ORS 41.580 has been considered by the Oregon courts numerous times and has been consistently held to render unenforceable agreements made by agents whose authority was not conferred in writing. Coleman v. Parry Center, 43 Or. App. 775, 779, 604 P.2d 424 (1979), rev den 289 Or. 107 (1980); Hage et ux v. Harvey et al, 210 Or. 652, 656-57, 313 P.2d 448 (1957); Marshall v. Strauss, 160 Or. 265, 274, 84 P.2d 502 (1938); Union Cent. Life Ins. Co. v. Toliver, 152 Or. 185, 193, 52 P.2d 1129 (1936); Ramsey v. Wellington Co., 114 Or. 355, 369, 235 P. 297 (1925); Bessler v. Derby, 80 Or. 513, 519, 157 P. 791 (1916); Toomey v. Casey, 72 Or. 290, 295, 142 P. 621 (1914); Walk v. Hibberd, 65 Or. 497, 504-05, 133 P. 95 (1913); Chick v. Bridges, 56 Or. 1, 107 P. 478 (1910); see Kallstrom v. O'Callaghan, 259 Or. 210, 227, 485 P.2d 1200 (1971); Johnson v. Davis, 252 Or. 472, 475, 450 P.2d 758 (1969). As was said in Marshall v. Strauss, supra, 160 Or at 274:
1862 Deady's Code, ch 9, § 775(7). It has been consistently construed to void agreements that do not conform. Hage et ux v. Harvey et al, 210 Or. 652, 656-57, 313 P.2d 448 (1957); Marshall v. Strauss, 160 Or. 265, 274, 84 P.2d 502 (1938); Union Cent. Life Ins. Co. v. Toliver, 152 Or. 185, 193, 52 P.2d 1129 (1936); Ramsey v. Wellington Co., 114 Or. 355, 369, 235 P. 297 (1925); Bessler v. Derby, 80 Or. 513, 519, 157 P. 791 (1916); Toomey v. Casey, 72 Or. 290, 295, 142 P. 621 (1914); Walk v. Hibberd, 65 Or. 497, 504-05, 133 P. 95 (1913); Chick v. Bridges, 56 Or. 1, 107 P. 478, AC' 12B 1293 (1910). See Kallstrom v. O'Callaghan, 259 Or. 210, 227, 485 P.2d 1200 (1971); Johnson v. Davis, 252 Or. 472, 475, 450 P.2d 758 (1969).
Plaintiff Grossman, nevertheless, in executing the settlement stipulation, was charged with knowledge that, absent an emergency, an appearing attorney does not have implied authority by virtue of his office to compromise and settle his client's rights. Precious v. O'Rourke, 270 Mass. 305, 170 N.E. 110 (1930); Strauss v. Rabe, 97 N.J. Eq. 208, 127 A. 188 (1925), aff'd, 98 N.J. Eq. 700, 130 A. 920 (1925); UnionCentral Life Ins. Co. v. Toliver, 152 Ore. 185, 52 P.2d 1129 (1936); 3 Am.Jur.2d Agency §§ 78, 79, 262 (1962); 2A C.J.S. Agency §§ 36, 168, 169 (1972); 7 C.J.S. Attorney and Client § 79 (1937).