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146 A.D. 590

In re Farrington

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York · decided 1911-10-20

Appeal by William D. Farrington from an order of the Supreme Court, made at the Kings County .Special Term and entered in the office of the clerk of the county of Kings on the 3d day of March, 1911.

Relies on Matter of King

Decided 1911-10-20

Rich, J.:

¶1This appeal is brought by an attorney at law from an order .denying his application for an order determining the amount of his hen upon money in his hands belonging to his client. The petition was denied upon the ground that it was not made to appear that the appellant had preserved the money intact.

¶2An attorney with money in his hands belonging to his client has an absolute right to a summary determination by the court of the existence and amount of his lien (Judiciary Law [Consol. Laws, chap. 30; Laws of 1909, chap. 35], § 475; Matter of King, 168 N. Y. 53), and it is not incumbent upon him to show that *591he had preserved the money intact; it is enough if he is ready, able and willing to account to the client.

¶3The question as to whether the" appellant has a general as well as a special lien upon the money is. to be determined upon the hearing at Special Term and not by this court in the first instance. The answer admits that the appellant has a lien upon the money, and the only controversy is as to the amount.

¶4The order must be reversed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements, and the proceeding remitted to the Special Term, with directions to proceed to a hearing and determination.

¶5Jenks, P. J., Carr and Woodward, JJ., concurred; Thomas, J., concurred in result.

¶6Order reversed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements, and proceeding remitted to the Special Term, with directions to proceed to a hearing and determination.

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