Leeds

BACKGROUND

The complaint consisted of a single cause of action for declaratory relief and alleged: 1. The Parties Plaintiffs are the Law Offices of Mark R. Leeds and its owner Mark R. Leeds (plaintiffs). Many allegations of the complaint refer to “plaintiff” in the singular, which

2 we understand to be a reference to Mark R. Leeds individually, and consistently with the allegations of the complaint, we refer to Mr. Leeds as “plaintiff” in this opinion. The demurring defendants are Reino & Iida, a Professional Corporation, Myles Iida, and Law Offices of Myles Iida (defendants). Defendant Donald Reino did not join in the demurrer and was not named in the judgment of dismissal. 2. The Fee Splitting Agreements In April 1994, plaintiff entered into a contract with the Law Offices of Donald J. Reino (Reino), whereby plaintiff agreed to refer workers’ compensation cases to Reino in consideration for payment of 25 percent of the attorney fees earned on those cases, 100 percent of all deposition fees (Lab. Code, § 5710) if “handled” by plaintiff, and 25 percent of the vocational rehabilitation attorney fees. Three years later, in 1997, Reino & Iida, a Professional Corporation,…