Case Name: In the Matter of Michael A. Robinson, Appellant. Frank R. Webster, Respondent
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1984-03-06
Citations: 100 A.D.2d 724
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of Michael A. Robinson, Appellant. Frank R. Webster, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 100
Pages: 724–725

Head Matter:
In the Matter of Michael A. Robinson, Appellant. Frank R. Webster, Respondent.

Opinion:
Order, insofar as appealed from, unanimously reversed, without costs, and lien vacated. Memorandum: Petitioner appeals from so much of the order of Special Term as granted his former attorney a quantum meruit charging lien under section 475 of the Judiciary Law on the proceeds of a section 1983 civil rights action (US Code, tit 42). Inasmuch as petitioner's former attorney had not yet commenced the civil rights action, he was not entitled to a charging lien (see 7 NY Jur 2d, Attorneys at Law, § 182, p 108; Lebovic v Ballantine & Sons, 12 AD2d 494). (Appeal from order of Supreme Court, Erie County, Bayger, J. — attorney's lien.) Present — Hancock, Jr., J. P., Denman, Boomer and Moule, JJ.