Opinion ID: 2025443
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: conclusion

Text: ¶ 80 Because the need for medical care arose out of the same accident as did the settlement proceeds and there is no evidence in the record that Hernandez provided Durkin any instructions about the disbursement of the settlement proceeds to Yorgan that were contrary to the assignment she executed in favor of Yorgan, I conclude that Hernandez validly assigned to Yorgan settlement proceeds from her personal injury claim, up to the amount of the charges for the chiropractic treatments Yorgan provided to Hernandez. I also conclude that Hernandez granted Yorgan a lien to secure payment of the debt for which the assignment was made, and that the lien can be enforced against the settlement proceeds because Yorgan's lien existed before Durkin had any right to retain a portion of the proceeds and Durkin had knowledge of both the assignment and Yorgan's lien. Accordingly, I would permit Yorgan to recover from Durkin to the extent of the settlement proceeds Durkin received or the amount due to Yorgan for the chiropractic care he provided to Hernandez, whichever is smaller. Therefore, I respectfully dissent.