David Lee Jones

I WITHHELD DELIVERY OF DEED TO A CLIENT WHO UNJUSTIFIABLY REFUSED TO PAY ME A SUM LESS THAN $100 FOR COURT COSTS CLEARLY DUE UNDER A WRITTEN FEE AGREEMENT. I DID VOLUNTARILY RELEASE THE DEED AFTER... more

I WITHHELD DELIVERY OF DEED TO A CLIENT WHO UNJUSTIFIABLY REFUSED TO PAY ME A SUM LESS THAN $100 FOR COURT COSTS CLEARLY DUE UNDER A WRITTEN FEE AGREEMENT. I DID VOLUNTARILY RELEASE THE DEED AFTER THE CLIENT RETAINED OTHER COUNSEL. HOWEVER, THE FLORIDA BAR TOOK THE POSITION THAT I WAS NOT ENTITLED TO WITHHOLD THE DEED BECAUSE MY WRITTEN FEE AGREEMENT WITH THE CLIENT DID EXPRESSLY STATE THAT I HAD THE RIGHT TO TO A LIEN ON THE DOCUMENT OBTAINED IN THE COURSE OF MY REPRESENTATION OF THE CLIENT. less