Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Apr 20, 2021
Pivot Holdings, LLC and DH Advisors, Appellants, v. The Daniel and Henry Company, Defendant, and Devereaux Murphy LLC, Respondent.
DH Advisors, LLC (DHA) appealed a judgment enforcing an attorney's lien filed by Devereux Murphy, LLC (DM) for unpaid legal fees. DHA argued there was an express agreement absolving it of fee responsibility, that DM forfeited its fees by withdrawing without just cause, and that the trial court erred by not apportioning fees between DHA and Pivot Holdings, LLC, who were jointly represented. The appellate court affirmed the judgment, finding no express agreement, that DM had just cause to withdraw due to an unforeseeable conflict, and that joint liability was proper without apportionment.