Opinion
05 Civ. 8501 (KMK) (JCF).
March 16, 2006
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
Jody Concepcion is the plaintiff in an action charging the City of New York, several police officers, and the Republican National Committee with false arrest, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, and other acts of wrongdoing. Ms. Concepcion has been represented in the action by three attorneys, Karen Wohlforth, Zelda Stewart, and Leslie Lewis. Ms. Concepcion now moves to discharge Ms. Lewis as counsel and to go forward with Ms. Wohlforth and Ms. Stewart only. Ms. Lewis does not oppose the motion insofar as it seeks her removal but does oppose it to the extent that it would preclude a determination now of the amount Ms. Concepcion owes her for services already rendered. For the reasons discussed below, I grant both Ms. Concepcion's motion to discharge Ms. Lewis and Ms. Lewis's request to establish the value of services she has rendered to Ms. Concepcion. Background
In September 2004, Ms. Concepcion met Ms. Lewis in the elevator of the office building where both women worked at the time. Ms. Concepcion asked if Ms. Lewis worked at a law firm and explained she was looking for a lawyer to handle her false arrest claim. (Affidavit of Jody Concepcion dated March 7, 2006 ("Concepcion Aff."), ¶¶ 2-4). Ms. Lewis instantly introduced Ms. Concepcion to Ms. Stewart, who also worked in the building. (Concepcion Aff., ¶¶ 2, 5). In mid-September, Ms. Concepcion and Ms. Stewart signed a retainer that included a contingent fee agreement. Soon thereafter Ms. Stewart brought Ms. Wohlforth on to the case. In November 2004, Ms. Lewis, too, joined the team. (Concepcion Aff., ¶¶ 6, 7). In January 2006, Ms. Concepcion discharged Ms. Lewis without cause. (Letter of Jody Concepcion dated January 26, 2006, attached as Exh. B to Affirmation of Leslie Lewis dated March 3, 2006 ("Lewis Aff.")).
Discussion
It is well established under New York law that a client may discharge an attorney at any time, with or without cause. Lai Ling Cheng v. Modansky Leasing Co., 73 N.Y.2d 454, 457, 541 N.Y.S.2d 742, 744 (1989). However, an attorney who is employed under a contingent fee contract and then discharged without fault is entitled to recover the reasonable value of her services, determined on a quantum meruit basis at the time of discharge. Cohen v. Grainger, Tesoriero Bell, 81 N.Y.2d 655, 658, 602 N.Y.S.2d 788, 789-90 (1993); Lai Ling Cheng, 73 N.Y.2d at 457-58, 541 N.Y.S.2d at 744; In re Tillman, 259 N.Y. 133, 136, 181 N.E. 75, 76 (1940). Ms. Lewis requests that her fee be determined now. She asserts that the value of her services is $90,000, stating — without submitting supporting documentation — that she spent 400 hours on the case. The lawyers remaining on the case, Ms. Stewart and Ms. Wohlforth, seek a delay of the determination of Ms. Lewis's fees until the conclusion of the litigation. However, there is no basis for denying Ms. Lewis's request for an immediate valuation of the services she rendered.
To obtain a determination, Ms. Lewis must provide a detailed record of her efforts, including copies of billing entries identifying the work she did for Ms. Concepcion, the amount of time it took, and any other costs she incurred. See Weinreich v. Sandhaus, 850 F. Supp. 1169, 1183 (S.D.N.Y. 1994) ("Plaintiff bears the burden of proof in quantum meruit actions.");Miller v. Maryland Casualty Co., 114 Misc. 2d 713, 717 452 N.Y.S.2d 309, 311 (N.Y. Civ. Ct. 1982) (attorney has burden of establishing performance, value of performance, and nexus between performance and client's liability). Under New York law, any amount allowed at this point may be reduced, upon application, if it proves to be disproportionate to the final recovery. See, e.g., Adams v. Legett, 15 A.D.2d 856, 857, 224 N.Y.S.2d 584, 585-86 (3d Dep't 1962).
Ms. Lewis also seeks an order sustaining her charging lien on the file and forbidding settlement of this matter unless the parties provide her with an opportunity to be heard. Such an order is unnecessary. New York Judiciary Law § 475 provides that each attorney has a statutory charging lien on his or her client's cause of action. The lien attaches to any determination or final order in the client's favor and "cannot be affected by any settlement between the parties before or after judgment, final order or determination." N.Y. Jud. Law § 475. Attorneys are authorized by statute to initiate proceedings to enforce the lien. Id.; see also Rebmann v. Wicks, 259 A.D.2d 972, 973, 688 N.Y.S.2d 293, 294 (4th Dep't 1999). Thus, New York law obviates the need for the order that Ms. Lewis requests.
Conclusion
Ms. Concepcion's motion to discharge Ms. Lewis as counsel is granted. Ms. Lewis's request for a prompt determination of the value of her services is granted; however, Ms. Lewis must move for an award and provide documentary support for her claim. Finally, Ms. Lewis's request for an order sustaining her charging lien and forbidding settlement unless she has an opportunity to be heard is denied.
SO ORDERED.