St. John v. Diefendorf

12 Wend. 261

• Court: New York Supreme Court
• Decided: December 18, 1824
• Status: Published

Opinion

By the Court,

Savage, Ch. J.

The question is, whether an attorney has a lien upon his client’s money, before it comes into his hands, to satisfy a demand he has against his client ' for costs in other suits. It is admitted that no adjudged case has been found establishing such lien. He has a lien after notice for his own costs, while they are in the hands of the defendant, but not for a debt due to him from his client, unless it has been assigned to him. It is true, that an attorney has a lien upon his client’s papers; but he has no lien upon any thing which belongs to his client, until it is in his possession. The costs belong to the, attorney; but even those may be discharged by the client, unless notice has been given. Had the plaintiff demanded the money of the sheriff, he sure-]y migbt have received it without subjecting the sheriff to liability. There can be no lien upon what belongs to another, wdhout possession. “ Lien is a right by the possessor of property to hold it for the satisfaction of some demand.” Law of Lien, p. 1. In Mitchel v. Oldfield, 4 T. R. 124, Buller, justice, says that the court had said that they would not interfere on behalf of the attorney, and prevent the plaintiff setting his own cause, without first paying the attorney’s bill: yet they will take care that his bill is satisfied when the adverse party seeks to get rid of the judgment. Here, even as to the attorney’s costs, this court has adopted the practice of the common pleas, and not of the king’s bench, and allow them to be set off; but I cannot find that any court has ever gone the length we are asked to go in favor of the plaintiff’s attorneys. Dougl. 104, 238.

Motion granted, without costs.