Opinion ID: 6500405
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: conclusion

Text: The superior court’s judgment enforcing the charging order is VACATED and the case is REMANDED for an evidentiary hearing. The superior court’s order enforcing the attorney’s lien also is VACATED and REMANDED for an evidentiary hearing to determine the amount of attorney’s fees secured by the lien. 52 See id. Baker and Duffus also disagree whether the charging order should take priority over the attorney’s lien. But generally we do not answer hypothetical questions. Cf. State v. ACLU of Alaska, 204 P.3d 364, 368-73 (Alaska 2009) (explaining principle that courts hesitate to answer hypothetical questions, especially when concrete facts prove useful). Because it has yet to be determined whether the charging order is valid and how much money may be included in the attorney’s lien, we decline to decide which instrument would take priority, and how to weigh any attendant equitable considerations, without first remanding for the superior court to answer the prerequisite questions we have identified. -22- 7602