Phillips v. Smith

ZIMMERMAN, Justice:

Nilda Phillips appeals from an order enforcing an attorney’s lien. Nilda and her now-deceased husband, Elmer Lee Phillips, brought a medical malpractice action, initially retaining the law firm of Ungricht, Randle & Deamer (“the Ungricht firm”). Before any resolution was achieved, the Phillipses terminated their relationship with the Ungricht firm and hired new counsel. The new counsel negotiated a settlement. The Ungricht firm sought to enforce an attorney’s lien on the settlement amount, claiming it was entitled to a contingency fee of one-third of the settlement figure.…