259 A.D. 341 | N.Y. App. Div. | 1940
Plaintiff’s surety paid to defendant’s former attorney costs awarded upon a dismissal of plaintiff’s complaint after a trial and in a case where no counterclaim has been interposed. Defendant’s substituted attorney has issued an execution to the sheriff of New York county against plaintiff predicated upon the judgment for these costs assessed against plaintiff, contending that defendant’s former attorney had no right to the costs either by contract or by virtue of any charging lien. The appeal is from the order denying plaintiff’s motion to vacate the execution and levy. The question involved is whether costs awarded to a defendant in the circumstances is subject to a charging Hen of defendant’s former attorney.
The law is weH settled that costs awarded in an action are the property of the party and not of his attorney. (Baumwald v. Two Star Laundry Service, Inc., 234 App. Div. 392; affd., 260 N. Y. 538;
Accordingly, plaintiff is not entitled to an order vacating an execution on the judgment for costs upon a showing that the costs awarded defendant were paid to the former attorney after he had been discharged.
The order should be affirmed, with twenty dollars costs and disbursements.
Martin, P. J., Townley, Dore and Callahan, JJ., concur.
Order unanimously affirmed, with twenty dollars costs and disbursements.