484.140. Attorney may contract for percentage of proceeds of claim--notice of lien to be given to defendant.

MISSOURI STATUTES AND CODES

484.140. Attorney may contract for percentage of proceeds of claim--notice of lien to be given to defendant.

Attorney may contract for percentage of proceeds of claim--notice oflien to be given to defendant.

484.140. In all suits in equity and in all actions orproposed actions at law, whether arising ex contractu or exdelicto, it shall be lawful for an attorney at law either beforesuit or action is brought, or after suit or action is brought, tocontract with his client for legal services rendered or to berendered him for a certain portion or percentage of the proceedsof any settlement of his client's claim or cause of action,either before the institution of suit or action, or at any stageafter the institution of suit or action, and upon notice inwriting by the attorney who has made such agreement with hisclient, served upon the defendant or defendants, or proposeddefendant or defendants, that he has such an agreement with hisclient, stating therein the interest he has in such claim orcause of action, then said agreement shall operate from the dateof the service of said notice as a lien upon the claim or causeof action, and upon the proceeds of any settlement thereof forsuch attorney's portion or percentage thereof, which the clientmay have against the defendant or defendants, or proposeddefendant or defendants, and cannot be affected by any settlementbetween the parties either before suit or action is brought, orbefore or after judgment therein, and any defendant ordefendants, or proposed defendant or defendants, who shall, afternotice served as herein provided, in any manner, settle anyclaim, suit, cause of action, or action at law with suchattorney's client, before or after litigation instituted thereon,without first procuring the written consent of such attorney,shall be liable to such attorney for such attorney's lien asaforesaid upon the proceeds of such settlement, as per thecontract existing as herein provided between such attorney andhis client.