A Montgomery County woman filed a lawsuit against Houston lawyer Hugh J. “Pete” Plummer and his firm, Plummer & Farmer, alleging they paid themselves a $20,000 contingency fee from an $85,000 settlement without a signed contract.

Plaintiff Pearl Ostrewich alleges in the Jan. 21 petition she filed in the 281st District Court in Harris County that the defendants “disbursed $20,000 to themselves as attorney’s fees” without her “authorization, approval, or notice.”