Meloy v. Meloy
Meloy v. Meloy
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the Court:
We think this refusal of the plaintiff’s motion was proper, under the circumstances disclosed by the affidavits of the parties. The defendant is shown to have been the agent and attorney of
It seems to be a well-settled principle that an attorney at law has a lien on money in his possession collected for his client, to secure a reasonable compensation for professional services and disbursements, and that he can retain enough of the money to pay the general balance due him for such services and disbursements, although rendered in different suits or litigations. And it has been held that, in case where the client has died before the termination of the relation of client and attorney, the lien secures charges for services performed for the deceased as well as those performed for the representative of the estate of the deceased. Hurlbert v. Brigham, 56 Vt. 368.
In the case of Re Paschal (Texas v. White), 10 Wall. 483, 19 L. ed. 992, it was held that the attorney or solicitor, who is counsel in a cause, has a lien on moneys collected therein for his fees and disbursements in the same and in any suit or proceeding brought to recover other moneys covered by the same retainer. In that case, it was said by the court that “the lawyer in charge of a case acts both as solicitor and counsel. His serv
Order affirmed and cause remanded.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- MELOY v. MELOY
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Attorney and Client; Liens. 1. An attorney at law having money of a deceased client in Ms hands is entitled to deduct and retain a fair and reasonable compensation for professional services performed upon a settlement of accounts. 2. An attorney has a lien on money in his possession collected for his client to secure a reasonable compensation for professional services and disbursements, and may retain enough of the money to pay the general balance due him for such services and disbursements, although rendered and made in different suits or litigations, and the lien secures charges for services performed for a deceased client, as well as those performed for the representative of the estate of the decedent.