Anyia

BACKGROUND

I. Events leading to Anyia’s lawsuit

In about 2016, Anyia represented the Wongs in an underlying quiet title action concerning real property in Palmdale, California (the property). Anyia and the Wongs entered into a fee retainer contract for legal services under which the Wongs were to pay Anyia a retainer and a 35 percent contingency fee on any recovery in the underlying action. The retainer agreement also had this lien provision: “Attorney has a lien for fees and costs upon the proceeds of any settlement or recovery made on behalf of clients and upon the afore-described real property which is the subject matter of this action. Client heretofore grants attorney an equitable lien on any recovery made by attorney on behalf of client and the aforementioned real property.” (Capitalization omitted.)

1 To avoid confusion, we sometimes refer to Jose and Louis Wong by their first names.

2 Anyia performed various services on the Wongs’ behalf, and the underlying action settled. Under the settlement terms, the Wongs were to sell the property and to pay the plaintiff in the underlying action from the sale proceeds. According to Anyia, he was also supposed to be paid from…