Opinion
2017–00389 Index No. 31526/15
01-10-2018
In the Matter of Joel GROSSBARTH, etc., respondent, v. DANKNER, MILSTEIN AND RUFFO, P.C., appellant.
Dankner, Milstein & Ruffo, P.C., sued herein as Dankner, Milstein and Ruffo, P.C. (Alexander J. Wulwick, New York, NY, of counsel), appellant pro se. Levin & Chetkof, LLP, Westbury, N.Y. (Howard A. Chetkof of counsel), for respondent.
Dankner, Milstein & Ruffo, P.C., sued herein as Dankner, Milstein and Ruffo, P.C. (Alexander J. Wulwick, New York, NY, of counsel), appellant pro se.
Levin & Chetkof, LLP, Westbury, N.Y. (Howard A. Chetkof of counsel), for respondent.
RUTH C. BALKIN, J.P., LEONARD B. AUSTIN, SANDRA L. SGROI, VALERIE BRATHWAITE NELSON, JJ.
DECISION & ORDER
In a proceeding to recover an attorney's fee, the appeal is from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Rockland County (Loehr, J.), entered December 16, 2016, which, after a hearing, awarded the petitioner fees and expenses in the total sum of $23,493.16.
ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed, with costs.
The appellant law firm, Dankner, Milstein and Ruffo, P.C. (hereinafter DMR), was substituted for the petitioner as the attorney for the plaintiff in a medical malpractice action after the petitioner was suspended from the practice of law. The malpractice action later settled in favor of the plaintiff. The petitioner was disbarred effective March 19, 2013 (see Matter of Grossbarth , 113 A.D.3d 14, 975 N.Y.S.2d 116 ). Neither the petitioner's suspension nor his disbarment related to his representation of the plaintiff in the underlying medical malpractice action.
In April 2015, the petitioner commenced this proceeding against DMR pursuant to 22 NYCRR former 691.10(b), now 1240.15(g), "the rule which governs compensation for a disbarred or suspended attorney based on work done prior to the effective date of suspension or disbarment" ( Matter of Grossbarth v. Danker, Milstein & Ruffo, P.C. , 142 A.D.3d 706, 707, 36 N.Y.S.3d 737 ). The petitioner sought to recover fees on a quantum meruit basis, and expenses allegedly due to him for legal work he performed for the plaintiff in the medical malpractice action prior to his suspension. The Supreme Court concluded that the petitioner was entitled to recover a fee in quantum meruit and, following a hearing, determined that the petitioner was entitled to fees in quantum meruit and expenses in the sum of $21,316.05. A judgment was thereafter entered in the total sum of $23,493.16, which included interest and disbursements.
Contrary to DMR's contention, the petitioner was not precluded from recovery on the ground that he failed to file a retainer statement with the Office of Court Administration in accordance with 22 NYCRR 691.20(a)(1), since the petitioner did not seek the recovery of fees on a breach of contract theory, but solely on a quantum meruit basis (see Siracusa v. Fitterman, 110 A.D.3d 1055, 1056, 974 N.Y.S.2d 498 ; Micro–Spy, Inc. v. Small, 69 A.D.3d 687, 689, 893 N.Y.S.2d 187 ; Law Off. of Howard M. File, Esq., P.C. v .Ostashko, 60 A.D.3d 643, 644–645, 875 N.Y.S.2d 502 ; cf. Giano v. Ioannou, 78 A.D.3d 768, 771, 911 N.Y.S.2d 398 ; Rabinowitz v. Cousins, 219 A.D.2d 487, 631 N.Y.S.2d 312 ). The lack of a fee-sharing agreement between the petitioner and DMR also did not preclude the petitioner from seeking the recovery of fees against DMR (see Biagioni v. Narrows MRI & Diagnostic Radiology, P.C., 127 A.D.3d 800, 6 N.Y.S.3d 588 ; Padilla v. Sansivieri, 31 A.D.3d 64, 66–67, 815 N.Y.S.2d 173 ; Decolator, Cohen & DiPrisco v. Lysaght, Lysaght & Kramer, 304 A.D.2d 86, 90–91, 756 N.Y.S.2d 147 ). Moreover, the petitioner did not forfeit his right to recover fees for the work he performed in the medical malpractice action prior to his suspension (see Decolator, Cohen & DiPrisco v. Lysaght, Lysaght & Kramer, 304 A.D.2d at 91, 756 N.Y.S.2d 147 ).
Accordingly, the Supreme Court did not err in determining that the petitioner was entitled to an award of fees on a quantum meruit basis (see 22 NYCRR former 691.10[b], now 1240.15[g]; see generally Biagioni v. Narrows MRI & Diagnostic Radiology, P.C., 127 A.D.3d at 801, 6 N.Y.S.3d 588 ; Padilla v. Sansivieri, 31 A.D.3d at 66–67, 815 N.Y.S.2d 173 ; Rosenzweig v. Gomez, 250 A.D.2d 664, 664, 672 N.Y.S.2d 907 ).
DMR's remaining contention is without merit.
BALKIN, J.P., AUSTIN, SGROI and BRATHWAITE NELSON, JJ., concur.