People Ex Rel. Deukmejian v. Worldwide Church of God, Inc.

California attorneys, Hillel Chodos, Rafael Chodos, Hugh John Gibson, and the New Jersey law firm of Cohn & Lifland, appeal from an order of the superior court denying their application for $100,000 in attorneys’ fees for services rendered in procuring and defending the appointment of a receiver in an.action against respondents, the Worldwide Church of God (Church). We affirm.

As we will discuss, infra, the receivership has long since been dissolved and the underlying action has been dismissed without any determination that respondents were guilty of any wrongdoing.

In the summer of 1978, certain members of the Church contacted the New Jersey law firm of Cohn & Lifland expressing their concern that officials of their Church might be guilty of malfeasance and misfeasance with respect to Church affairs. Hillel Chodos was contacted by the New Jersey firm for assistance.

Chodos, determining that the complaining Church members had no standing to sue, brought the matter to the attention of Deputy Attorney General Lawrence Tapper, whose duties included surveillance of charitable trusts. Chodos recommended that orders be obtained compelling the Church to account for its assets…