California v. Superior Court of Sacramento County

May an attorney accept a personal injury case on a contingent fee basis, determine that it is not worth his time to pursue the matter, instruct his client to look elsewhere for legal assistance, but hedge his bet by claiming a part of the recovery if a settlement is made or a judgment obtained through the efforts of a subsequent attorney? We answer this question with a resounding "No." Thus, we affirm the trial courts holding that the firm of Cohen & Steinbrecher (Cohen) holds no lien against any recovery which Bruce Hensel (Hensel), their former client, may subsequently obtain in his pending personal injury case.