The New Jersey Appellate Division vacated the denial of a request for oral argument in a dispute between two former partners and equity shareholders at Mescall & Acosta over attorney fees in a personal injury case.

James C. Mescall and Carlos H. Acosta, formerly partners at Mescall & Acosta, separated as of Jan. 1, 2021. Their disagreement arose over Acosta’s alleged mishandling of dozens of cases, according to the Appellate Division’s July 13 opinion. The two entered into a final settlement agreement, which provided that, for any cases settled in 2020, Mescall would receive 80% of the attorney fees. But for cases settled in 2021, that fee would drop to 35%.