O.C.G.A. § 15-19-15 (2019)
Satisfaction of liens
Liens of attorneys at law in possession of personal property under a lien for fees shall be satisfied according to Code Section 44-14-550.
History
(Ga. L. 1873, p. 42, § 17; Code 1873, § 1992; Ga. L. 1880-81, p. 63, § 4; Code 1882, § 1992; Civil Code 1895, § 2818; Civil Code 1910, § 3368; Code 1933, § 9-614.)
Annotations
JUDICIAL DECISIONS Forfeiture of lien. - If, as a result of plaintiffs’ assertion of an attorneys’ fee lien, plaintiffs came into possession of several checks made jointly payable to plaintiffs and defendant and, notwithstanding defendant’s written demand for those checks, plaintiffs retained possession of those checks and subsequent ones, not instituting foreclosure proceedings
within ten days of holding personal property belonging to the defendant, plaintiffs failed to comply with the explicit terms of O.C.G.A. § 15-19-15; thus, forfeiture and cancellation of the lien was proper. Ellis, Funk, Goldberg, Labovitz & Dockson v. Kleinberger, 235 Ga. App. 360, 509 S.E.2d 660 (1998).
RESEARCH REFERENCES Am. Jur. 2d. - 7 Am. Jur. 2d, Attorneys at Law, § 333 et seq. C.J.S. - 7A C.J.S., Attorney and Client, § 221. ALR. - Attorney’s lien on papers or securities that come into his possession otherwise than in his professional capacity, 2 ALR 1488. Substitution by court of security for attorneys’ lien, 33 ALR 1296. Attorneys’ lien as subject to set-off against judgment, 34 ALR 323; 51 ALR 1268. Right of attorney rendering service to personal representative or testamentary trustee to equitable substitution or
subrogation to the latter’s right against the estate in respect of such services, 100 ALR 72. Means of enforcing or making effective attorney’s retaining lien, 111 ALR 487. Statute relating to attorney’s lien as affecting common law or equitable lien, 120 ALR 1243. Constitutionality of statute which by express terms or construction declares that attorneys’ liens shall not be affected by settlement or compromise between the parties, 122 ALR 974. Terms of attorney’s contingent-fee contract as creating an equitable lien in his favor, 143 ALR 204.
Funds in hands of his attorney as subject of attachment or garnishment by client’s creditor, 35 ALR3d 1094. Amount of attorneys’ compensation in absence of contract or statute fixing amount, 57 ALR3d 475. Amount of attorneys’ compensation in matters involving guardianship and trusts, 57 ALR3d 550. Amount of attorneys’ fees in tort actions, 57 ALR3d 584; 86 ALR Fed. 866.
Limitation to quantum meruit recovery, where attorney employed under contingent fee contract is discharged without cause, 92 ALR3d 690. Attorney’s retaining lien as affected by action to collect legal fees, 45 ALR4th 198. Calculations of attorneys’ fees under Federal Tort Claims Act--28 USCS sec. 2678, 86 ALR Fed. 866.