484.150. Division of fees forbidden, when--penalty. - Missouri Statutes

Division of fees forbidden, when--penalty.

484.150. 1. It shall be unlawful for any licensed attorneyin the state of Missouri to divide any fees or compensationreceived by him in the practice of law or in doing law businesswith any person not a licensed attorney or any firm not whollycomposed of licensed attorneys, or any association orcorporation, and any person, firm, association or corporationviolating this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanorand upon conviction therefor shall be punished by a fine of notless than twenty-five dollars nor more than five hundred dollarsand costs of prosecution, which fine shall be paid into thetreasury of the state of Missouri.

2. Any person, firm, association or corporation who shallviolate the foregoing prohibition of this section shall besubject to be sued for treble the amount of any and all sums ofmoney paid in violation hereof by the person, persons,association or corporation paying the fees or compensation whichshall have been so divided and if such person, persons,association or corporation shall not sue for or recover the samewithin two years from the date of such division of fees orcompensation, the state of Missouri shall have the right to andshall sue for and recover said treble amount, which shall uponrecovery be paid into the treasury of the state of Missouri.

3. It is hereby made the duty of the attorney general of thestate of Missouri or the prosecuting attorney of any county orcity in which service of process may be had upon the person,firm, association or corporation liable therefor, to instituteall suits necessary for the recovery of said sums of money by thestate of Missouri.

(RSMo 1939 § 13315)

Prior revisions: 1929 § 11694; 1919 § 668

CROSS REFERENCE:

Profits of attorney through certain contracts with newspapers prohibited, penalty, RSMo 493.130, 493.140