Texas Court Affirms Attorney Didn't Abandon Client, Upholds Fee-Splitting Agreement

HOUSTON, Texas - An attorney who withdraws from further representation of clients after he has effected an asbestos settlement for those clients has not abandoned them without just cause, and therefore is entitled to his attorneys' fees under a fee-splitting agreement, a Texas Court of Appeals has ruled. Madeksho v. Abraham Watkins Nichols & Friend et al., No. 14-98-01462-CV (Texas Ct. App., 14th Dist.).

The appellate court affirmed a grant of summary judgment in favor of the attorney seeking his share of the fee-splitting arrangement.

subThe Arrangementendsub In the 1970s, Robert E. Ballard of Abraham Watkins Nichols and Friend entered …