Gamble v. Gamble

78 A.D.2d 673, 432 N.Y.S.2d 405, 1980 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 13170

Opinion

In a matrimonial action, the appellant law firm appeals, as limited by its brief, from so much of an order of the Supreme Court, Queens County, dated March 10, 1980, as, in granting plaintiff’s motion for substitution of attorneys, directed said law firm to turn over its entire litigation file to the incoming attorneys. Order reversed insofar as appealed from, without costs or disbursements, and the second decretal paragraph, requiring the transfer of the litigation file, is deleted therefrom. The matter is remitted to Special Term for a prompt hearing to fix the amount of the outgoing attorneys’ lien, of any, for their services and disbursements, and to condition the turnover upon payment of the sum thereby found to be due from plaintiff to her former attorneys or the posting of security therefor. Special Term did not allow for the exercise of appellant’s common-law retaining lien in conjunction with the required transfer of respondent’s papers within appellant’s possession (see Yaron v Yaron, 58 AD2d 752). Lazer, J. P., Mangano, Gibbons and Cohalan, JJ., concur.