Summary
holding that "'[a]n attorney who engages in misconduct by violating the Disciplinary Rules is not entitled to legal fees for any services rendered'"
Summary of this case from Louima v. City of New YorkOpinion
April 17, 1995
Appeal from the Surrogate's Court, Westchester County (Emanuelli, S.).
Ordered that the order is modified, on the law, by deleting the provision thereof denying the branch of the petitioner's motion which was for summary judgment dismissing the respondent's claim for legal fees from March 26, 1990, to December 31, 1990, and substituting therefor a provision granting that branch of the motion; as so modified, the order is affirmed, with costs to the petitioner.
"[A]n attorney who engages in misconduct by violating the Disciplinary Rules is not entitled to legal fees for any services rendered" (Shelton v Shelton, 151 A.D.2d 659). Here, Rogers Wells' representation of Bankers Trust Company of New York, against former client Ronald Winston's wishes, violated the Code of Professional Responsibility (see, e.g., Code of Professional Responsibility DR 5-108 [A] [1] [ 22 NYCRR 1200.27 (a) (1)]). Accordingly, the firm may not recover legal fees from March 26, 1990, until December 31, 1990 (see, Brill v Friends World Coll., 133 A.D.2d 729; Matter of Klenk, 151 Misc.2d 863, affd 204 A.D.2d 640; Matter of Merrick, 107 Misc.2d 988; Estate of Abel, NYLJ, Oct. 23, 1992, at 26, col 3). However, there are questions of fact as to whether the firm is entitled to compensation for legal services rendered from January 25, 1990, until March 25, 1990. Santucci, J.P., Joy, Friedmann and Florio, JJ., concur.