2001 Minnesota Statutes

     481.13 Lien for attorneys' fees. 

    An attorney has a lien for compensation whether the 
 agreement therefor be expressed or implied: 

    (1) Upon the cause of action from the time of the service 
 of the summons therein, or the commencement of the proceeding, 
 and upon the interest of the attorney's client in any money or 
 property involved in or affected by any action or proceeding in 
 which the attorney may have been employed, from the commencement 
 of the action or proceeding, and, as against third parties, from 
 the time of filing the notice of such lien claim, as provided in 
 this section; 

    (2) Upon a judgment, and whether there be a special 
 agreement as to compensation, or whether a lien is claimed for 
 the reasonable value of the services, the lien shall extend to 
 the amount thereof from the time of giving notice of the claim 
 to the judgment debtor, but this lien is subordinate to the 
 rights existing between the parties to the action or proceeding; 

    (3) The liens provided by clauses (1) and (2) may be 
 established, and the amount thereof determined, by the court, 
 summarily, in the action or proceeding, on the application of 
 the lien claimant or of any person or party interested in the 
 property subject to such lien, on such notice to all parties 
 interested therein as the court may, by order to show cause, 
 prescribe, or such liens may be enforced, and the amount thereof 
 determined, by the court, in an action for equitable relief 
 brought for that purpose. 

    Judgment shall be entered under the direction of the court, 
 adjudging the amount due. 

    (4) If the lien is claimed on the client's interest in real 
 estate involved in or affected by the action or proceeding, such 
 notice of intention to claim a lien thereon shall be filed in 
 the office of the county recorder or registrar of titles, where 
 appropriate, and therein noted on the certificate or 
 certificates of title affected, in and for the county within 
 which the same is situated.  If the lien is claimed on the 
 client's interest in personal property involved in or affected 
 by the action or proceeding, the notice shall be filed in the 
 same manner as provided by law for the filing of a security 
 interest. 

    HIST: (5695) RL s 2288; 1917 c 98; 1939 c 394; 1976 c 181 s 2; 
 1976 c 304 s 2; 1986 c 444