Shelowitz, Shelowitz, Terrell & Coffey, P.A. v. Peters

Former counsel for the wife in an ongoing dissolution of marriage proceeding seeks review of a nonfinal order granting her motion to release discovery papers to her, in spite of her delinquency in paying fees she owes the firm. The firm filed a notice of retaining lien. We grant the petition.

In granting release of the files, the trial court stated that the “firm does not have a contract or a court order granting a retaining lien.” But the firm did have an implied-in-fact contract, even if not written, and did not need a court order to maintain its lien. Andrew Hall & Assocs. v. Ghanem, 679…