Violation of Professional Conduct Rules Doesn't Allow Attorney to Duck Fee-Splitting Deal

The Oklahoma Supreme Court adopted a decision of the Court of Civil Appeals finding that an attorney could not get out of a fee-splitting deal just because the agreement violated the Rules of Professional Conduct. Case: Garrett v. Bell, No. 120,999, filed 10/27/2023, mandate issued 04/25/2024, published. Facts: Richard Bell of the Bell Law Firm and David Garrett of the Garrett Law Office represent claimants in workers’ compensation cases. In 2005, an attorney with the Garrett firm died, and the office agreed to refer workers’ compensation cases to Bell in exchange for a por...