Opinion ID: 2570497
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Kansas Statutes

Text: To support its determination that public policy requires the court to create a cause of action that regulates the legal profession, the majority relies on Mohamed v. Kerr, 91 F.3d 1124 (1996), and the Restatement of the Law of Restitution § 74, Comment k. Neither apply to our factual situation. Mohamed v. Kerr, 91 F.3d 1124 (1996), cited by majority, is not an action to recover money damages for a negligent or fraudulent act; it is an interpleader action in the federal court similar to K.S.A. 60-222. Persons having claims against the plaintiff/insurer were joined as defendants. The individuals having claims for the insurance proceeds were required to interplead their claims against the insurer who was subject to multiple liability. Unlike the federal procedures available in Mohamed, in a Kansas interpleader action where an appeal is taken, the appellant, by giving a supersedeas bond, may obtain a further stay of execution of the judgment. K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 60-262(d). A supersedeas bond is not required where defendant's money is paid into court awaiting final judgment for distribution. Where money is paid to the court, the portion of the judgment which on appeal is determined to be the client's interest in the deposit, is by statute subject to an attorney's lien. The statutory procedures in Kansas protecting a judgment pending appeal demonstrate why the majority's reliance on Mohamed is misplaced. In Kansas, under the circumstances set out in Mohamed, the contested amount of the judgment would not be distributed to those having claims prior to a final judgment.