Dowling v. Chicago Options Associates, Inc.

Chief Justice Thomas and Justices Fitzgerald and Karmeier concurred in the judgment and opinion.

Justice Freeman concurred in part and dissented in part, with opinion, joined by Justices Kilbride and Burke.

OPINION

Plaintiff, Brian Dowling, commenced proceedings to collect on two judgments he obtained against defendants, Chicago Options Associates and Michael E. Davis. In the process, Dowling learned that Davis had paid retainers to his lawyers, DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary (US), LLP (now known as DLA Piper (US) LLP) (hereafter Piper), in connection with efforts to protect his assets from…