Opinion ID: 1852242
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: Choice of attorneys and payment of attorney fees.

Text: ¶ 68. Where, as here, one of the wrongful death beneficiaries proposes to engage counsel and file a wrongful death suit without participation of the personal representative of the decedent and all other beneficiaries, the beneficiary who files suit does so as the representative of all statutory beneficiaries and must, within a reasonable time following the filing of the complaint, [17] provide reasonable notice (i) to all other wrongful death beneficiaries; (ii) to the personal representative of the decedent if one has been appointed; and (iii) to each person who bears a relationship to the deceased specified in section 11-7-13. [18] Such notice should, at a minimum, include the identity of the plaintiffs and defendants, the nature of the claims against those defendants, the identity of counsel representing the plaintiffs, and a copy of the complaint. ¶ 69. In addition, full disclosure is required of any agreement or arrangement for the payment of costs or attorney's fees from the portion of recovery attributable to those receiving such notice. Should the personal representative, or one or more of the beneficiaries join in the litigation with separate counsel representing their respective interests, the portion of recovery attributable to such claimants shall not be subject to such agreement or arrangement, absent written consent after full disclosure. However, the personal representative or any beneficiary may petition the court for a review of the proposed payment of costs and distribution of attorney fees, and the trial court may equitably adjust and allocate fees among the attorneys based on the quantitative and qualitative contribution of each to the case, provided however, that so long as an attorney is reasonably involved, and makes a reasonable contribution to all aspects of the litigation, no deduction should be made from his or her fees.