Law Office of Michael B. Brehne, P.A. v. Porter Law Firm, LLC
Law Office of Michael B. Brehne, P.A. v. Porter Law Firm, LLC
Opinion of the Court
The Law Office of Michael B. Brehne, P.A. ("Law Office"), appeals a final *855summary judgment in favor of State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and Southern-Owners Insurance Company (collectively, "the Insurers"), finding that the Insurers had not impaired Law Office's charging lien on the settlement proceeds paid to its former client and her newly retained counsel. The Insurers concede that Law Office properly perfected its charging lien before they disbursed the settlement proceeds to the former client's newly retained counsel. They contend that because the charging lien attaches only to the disputed funds, which are held in the newly retained counsel's trust account, Law Office's lien has not been impaired. We agree and affirm the trial court's judgment.
An attorney's charging lien attaches to the tangible fruits of the services. Correa v. Christensen,
AFFIRMED.
ORFINGER, BERGER and WALLIS, JJ., concur.
The action between Law Office and the newly retained counsel concerning the division of the fee is still pending.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.