Case Name: Edward A. Jeny, Appellant, v. Haven Merkle and Others, Defendants. F. Bell-Fenwick, Respondent
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1908-11-20
Citations: 128 A.D. 833
Docket Number: 
Parties: Edward A. Jeny, Appellant, v. Haven Merkle and Others, Defendants. F. Bell-Fenwick, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 128
Pages: 833–835

Head Matter:
Edward A. Jeny, Appellant, v. Haven Merkle and Others, Defendants. F. Bell-Fenwick, Respondent.
Second Department,
November 20, 1908.
Attorney and client — substitution.
A client has the right to change his attorney without assigning a cause, and the only question before the court on such motion is whether the order should be conditioned Upon the plaintiff’s paying or securing payment of his attorney's fees.
A substitution oí attorneys for the purpose of discontinuing an action for partition should not be conditioned on the payment of the attorney’s fees where he has done nothing .except to have a guardian ad litem and referee appointed, and it appears that the action cannot be prosecuted because the whereabouts of the life tenant is unknown and it is impossible to obtain the consent pre- ■ scribed by section 1588 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
Appeal by the plaintiff, Edward A. Jeny, from an order of the County Court of Kings county, entered in the office of the clerk of said county on the 28th day of May, 1908.
Herman S. Bachrach, for the appellant. |
F. Bell-Fenwick, respondent, in person.

Opinion:
Miller, J.:
This is an appeal from an order denying a motion made, by the ' plaintiff for a substitution of attorneys. The client has the right without assigning cause to change his attorney, and the only question before the court on this motion was whether the order should be made unconditionally or conditionally upon the plaintiff's paying or securing payment of attorney's fees. (Matter of Prospect Avenue, 85 Hun, 257; Barkley v. N. Y. C. & H. R. R. R. Co., 35 App. Div. 167.)
The action was brought in 1905 to partition real property in ' which the parties had remainder interests. Nothing has ever been done except to have a guardian ad litem appointed for an infant, and a referee appointed to hear and determine the issues raised by the pleadings. It appears to be undisputed that no further steps can be taken in the action because the whereabouts of the life tenant is unknown, and it is impossible to procure the consent prescribed in section 1533 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The plaintiff desires substitution of attorneys for the purpose of discontinuing the action.
It is difficult to perceive what benefit the services of the attorney have been to the plaintiff. While we do not say that the attorney has been guilty of neglect or misconduct, we do not think that this is a case in which the plaintiff should be burdened with an expensive reference to ascertain what fee, if any, should be paid him. The plaintiff wishes to discontinue a suit which was prematurely brought and which the attorney concedes cannot now be brought to a sue' cessful termination. Under these circumstances, we think that justice'will be subserved by leaving the attorney to his action to recover whatever he can show his services were worth.
The order is reversed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements, and the motion is granted, without costs.
Woodward, Jenks, Hooker and Rich, JJ., concurred.
Order of the County Court of Kings county reversed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements, and motion granted, without costs.