Hyon

These consolidated appeals have been taken by Junho Hyon from a judgment in an interpleader action that awarded respondents percentage shares in the proceeds derived from a global settlement of former litigation. The awards were based upon respondents’ contingent fee agreements with Hyon and Laurence Colangelo. The court subsequently awarded respondents as prevailing parties attorney fees based on provisions in the same agreements. In a wide-ranging attack on the judgment, Hyon claims that respondent Shopoff’s demurrers to his amended cross-complaint were erroneously sustained, he was improperly denied a jury trial, the judgment in favor of respondents is barred by principles of collateral estoppel, the retainer agreements are unenforceable under Business and Professions Code section 6155 and rule 3-300 of the Rules of Professional Conduct, and the awards of attorney fees to respondents are based on unenforceable agreements.

We conclude that respondent Shopoff’s demurrers were properly sustained, appellant Hyon had no right to a jury trial in the interpleader action, and only the judgment and award of attorney fees in favor of respondent Eric Selten were based on an…