Hanover v. Reynolds

4 Dem. Sur. 385

• Court: New York Surrogate's Court
• Decided: March 15, 1886
• Status: Published

Opinion

The Surrogate.

On behalf of the administratrix of this estate, a motion has been made for the substitution of Mr. Bennett in the place of Mr. Hanover, as her attorney in the pending accounting proceeding. Mr. Hanover claims that, as a condition of such substitution, he should first be paid $275, disbursed by him on account of his client.

It appears that, in January, 1882, he entered into a written contract with the administratrix, whereby, in consideration of the transfer of the good will, etc., of a certain advertising agency that had belonged to the decedent in his lifetime, he (the attorney) agreed, among other things, “ to give his legal services as the counsel or attorney of the administrators in the settlement of said estate until the same is settled.” The agreement further provided that the attorney should be repaid for “ any and all disbursements made necessary in the settlement of said estate.” It is under the clause last quoted that the attorney of record herein has interposed his claim for $275 disbursements, which includes a claim of $250 paid by Mr. Hanover as compensation for legal services of counsel in the affairs of the estate.

I think that, as regards the enforcement of an attorney’s lien, this term, “ disbursements,” must be taken in its technical meaning, and confined to such disbursements as are set forth in § 3256 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The sum paid by the attorney for services of counsel is not a disbursement within that section, and is not a disbursement, therefore, for the repayment of which the lien of the attorney of record can be recognized, or his claim for refunding sustained. If the other disbursements, to the amount of $25, are such as are embraced in § 3256, the payment of that sum may be directed as a condition to the entry of an order of substitution.