Opinion ID: 2274583
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Set Off

Text: [¶ 12] Before discussing the calculation of Lilley's contingent fee, we note that, functionally, the Bank's deficiency judgment and Steamship's jury award were part of a single recovery. Although the Bank's foreclosure action and Steamship's tort/contract action were not fully consolidated, they were consolidated for discovery due to the recognition that there was an overlap in parties and issues. The cases were also brought together to calculate the Bank's attorney fees. In its previous appeals, Steamship did not assert error in the denial of its motion to dismiss the Bank's foreclosure action and the dismissal of its counterclaims in that action. In this unusual circumstance, we approved the set off, Camden Nat'l Bank, Mem-07-84, even though a request for a set off must ordinarily be adequately pleaded to give notice to the other party, which does not appear to have occurred here. [3] See FDIC v. Notis, 602 A.2d 1164, 1165-66 (Me.1992). Therefore, in determining Lilley's contingent fee, we continue to treat the set off as if it had been pleaded as a claim or counterclaim in either the foreclosure action or the tort/contract action.