Opinion
October 13, 1994
Appeal from the Supreme Court, New York County (Jane Solomon, J.).
Appellant attorneys secured an arbitration award in favor of respondent client. When the client refused tender of payment by the other party to the arbitrations that other party commenced a CPLR article 75 proceeding to confirm the award, which was settled and discontinued without the attorneys ever making an appearance therein. The attorneys assert a charging lien against the proceeds of the settlement. Acknowledging that the underlying arbitration was not a "special proceeding" within the scope of Judiciary Law § 475 (see, Avalon Fabrics v. Raymill Fabric Corp., 96 N.Y.S.2d 50, 53; cf., Matter of Knoll N. Am. v. IBF Group, 158 Misc.2d 227, 229-230), they argue that the article 75 proceeding was such a proceeding and that the lien attached upon its commencement. We disagree since the statute, by its terms, provides that the lien can be asserted only by "the attorney who appears for a party" in the action or special proceeding (see, also, Matter of Weldon v. De Martini, 35 Misc.2d 710).
Concur — Murphy, P.J., Sullivan, Rosenberger, Nardelli and Tom, JJ.