Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_09-md-02087/USCOURTS-casd-3_09-md-02087-19/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 370
Nature of Suit: Other Fraud
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Fed. Question

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

-1- 09MD2087

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

IN RE HYDROXYCUT MARKETING

AND SALES PRACTICES LITIGATION

CASE NO. 09MD2087-BTM (AJB)

 

ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO

INTERVENE

On February 12, 2010, pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 24(a) and La. Rev. Stat. § 37:218,

attorneys and entities Jeffrey P. Berniard, Berniard Law Firm, Madro Bandaries, Madro

Bandaries PLC, Gregory P. DiLeo, and Jennifer B. Eagan filed a Motion to Intervene [docket

entry 82] (“Motion”). The motion was set for hearing on July 23, 2010. No opposition or

response to the Motion was filed. The matter was deemed suitable for determination without

oral argument and was submitted on the papers.

Case 3:09-md-02087-BTM-KSC Document 340 Filed 08/31/10 Page 1 of 2
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

-2- 09MD2087

Upon consideration of the Motion and relevant authority, the Motion is hereby

GRANTED. Louisiana courts have consistently recognized the right of the discharged attorney

to enforce his claim for fees by means of intervention in the suit in which the attorney provided

service. “Also recognized has been the right of a discharged attorney to enforce his properly

perfected claim for a contracted fee under La. Rev. Stat. § 37:218 not only against his former

client, but also against the opposing party in the suit filed by his former client.” Simmons v.

Chambliss, 852 So. 2d 1237, 1239 (La. App. 2003); see also Oubre v. Lousiana Citizens Fair

Plan, 8 So. 3d 99,102 (La. App. 2009).

Accordingly, it is hereby ordered that Jeffrey P. Berniard, Berniard Law Firm, Madro

Bandaries, Madro Bandaries PLC, Gregory P. DiLeo, and Jennifer B. Eagan shall be named

as plaintiffs in intervention for purposes of enforcing their claims for attorneys fees in this case.

Any party who may oppose the right to or amount of fees, however, shall be entitled to

a hearing upon request. See Robichaux v. Cade, 357 So. 2d 849, 852 (La. App. 1978).

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: August 31, 2010

Honorable Barry Ted Moskowitz

United States District Judge

Case 3:09-md-02087-BTM-KSC Document 340 Filed 08/31/10 Page 2 of 2