People v. Philip Morris, Inc.

The questions presented for review are: (1) does a circuit court have jurisdiction to adjudicate an attorney’s lien against the proceeds of a settlement where the State of Illinois was the plaintiff in the underlying action and where the settlement funds have never come into the possession or control of the state; and (2) did the circuit court of Cook County abuse its discretion in this case by establishing an escrow account to hold disputed attorney fees pending adjudication of an attorney’s lien? We answer the first question in the affirmative. We do not answer the second question because…