Ethics Opinion 251
Safekeeping of Settlement Proceeds Claimed Both by the Client and a Third Person
当客户和第三人都要求从澳博app在其IOLTA账户中持有的和解收益中获得利益时, 如果澳博app有理由相信第三方对争议部分有正当要求，则不应将争议部分支付给委托人. 这些有争议的收益应保留在帐户中，直到争议解决为止. 和解收益的任何无争议部分必须立即分配给有权获得该部分的各方.
Applicable Rules
- Rule 1.15 (Safekeeping Property)
- Rule 1.6 (Confidentiality of Information)
Inquiry
The inquirer represents a client in a personal injury case who was treated at D.C. General Hospital. The District of Columbia Government paid the client’s medical expenses. 诉讼对客户有利，询问者已收到和解金. The District Government, under D.C. Code § 3-507, et seq., 《澳博app下载网》(Health Care Assistance报销法)宣称，医疗补助计划(Medicaid)对和解所得具有留置权, 要求偿还地区代表客户支付的医疗福利. Following settlement, the lawyer requested the District to reduce the amount of its lien because (1) some of the amounts reflected in the lien were for charges unrelated to his client’s accident-related injuries and medical care; (2) some of the accident-related charges were deemed excessive in a deposition given by the client’s D.C. General Hospital treating physician; and (3) the lien is subject to compromise under D.C. Code § 3-507(b). Either the District has refused, or has not responded to, this request. 询问者的客户已要求询问者将所有和解收益直接支付给他. 询问者指出，他希望他的客户一旦收到钱就会花掉，并询问他是否可以, under the rules, hold the funds that are subject to the District’s lien in his IOLTA account.
Discussion
Rule 1.15, Safekeeping Property, 一般要求澳博app及时向客户或第三人交付客户或第三人有权获得的任何资金或其他财产.1 Comment [4] to Rule 1.第15条承认，其他当事人“可能只是对澳博app保管的资金或其他财产提出索赔.该评论进一步指出，澳博app“可能有责任根据适用法律保护此类第三方索赔免受客户的不当干涉。, and accordingly may refuse to surrender the property to the client.” In the case at issue, 区政府已对部分和解所得主张法定留置权. District law provides that, 在收到完善的医疗补助留置权通知后(大概是这里的情况), 某些人未支付满足留置权所需的金额而处分资金的, 该人对该区无法收回的任何款项承担一年的个人责任.2
当澳博app持有资金，他合理地认为是受完善的法定留置权, 留置权应被视为第三方对澳博app保管的资金的“正当索赔”, as that term is used in Comment [4] to Rule 1.15. Under such circumstances, 澳博app应拒绝向委托人支付有争议的和解收益. 相反，澳博app应该持有争议资金，直到争议得到解决.3 Of course, 无争议部分的收益应根据规则1及时交付给客户.15(b). Rule 1.15 and the comment thereunder recognize that, although the lawyer has a paramount obligation to the client, there may also be an ethical duty to third parties as to funds, in the lawyer’s possession, to which the third parties may be entitled.4
In cases where the lawyer holds disputed funds, 应客户的要求，他可以尝试通过与主张资金索取权的一方谈判来解决争议. 在双方达成协议或法院命令处理争议资金之前, the inquirer must hold the contested proceeds pursuant to Rule 1.15(a). Upon request of the third party (or the client), the lawyer must render a full account as to the proceeds, subject to the confidentiality rules of Rule 1.6.
Conclusion
澳博app只能向委托人分配委托人有权获得的和解金.
Inquiry No. 93-7-17
Adopted: October 18, 1994
1. Rule 1.15(b) states:
收到委托人或第三人有利害关系的资金或其他财产时, a lawyer shall promptly notify the client or third person. 除非本规则另有规定，或法律或与客户的协议另有规定, 澳博app应当及时向委托人或者第三人交付委托人或者第三人有权收受的款项或者其他财产, upon request by the client or third person, shall promptly render a full accounting regarding such property, subject to Rule 1.6.
2. D.C. Code § 3-507 provides:
如果在收到本条第(d)款第(2)款规定的留置权通知后，受益人, third party, 或第三方侵权行为人的保险公司处置根据本条完善的留置权所涵盖的资金，而未向地区法院支付其在付清任何先前留置权后本可由该等资金清偿的留置权金额, that beneficiary, third party, or insurer shall, for a period of 1 year from the date the funds were improperly disposed of, be liable to the District for any amount that, because of the disposition, it is unable to recover.
3. See, e.g., In re Cassidy, 89 Ill. 2d 145, 432 N.E.2d 274 (1982). 法院认为，如果澳博app没有将第三方拥有留置权的信托账户中的和解收益支付给其客户，则不应受到指责.
4. Rule 1.15(b) and Comment [4]. See also Leon v. Martinez, N.Y. Ct. App. No. 103 (7/7/94). In Martinez, 法院驳回了澳博app的论点，即根据DR 9-102，他有义务向他的客户支付他拥有的和解基金，并允许第三方起诉澳博app，以强制执行他们对部分和解收益的要求. 法院的结论是，该规则明确规定了对第三方在资金方面的道德义务, held by the lawyer, to which the third parties may be entitled.
