A law firm that was discharged by a client may recover damages in quantum meruit from the firm that takes over the case, rather than from the client, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ruled.

In its unanimous Tuesday opinion, the court held that Meyer Darragh Buckler Bebenek & Eck can obtain damages from Malone Middleman, which took over an estate case from Meyer Darragh following a lateral move. Malone Middleman ultimately received $67,000 in attorney fees from the client, and the Supreme Court concluded Tuesday that Meyer Darragh can collect nearly $15,000 of that fee from the firm.