Missouri Laws 484.150 – Division of fees forbidden, when — penalty
1. It shall be unlawful for any licensed attorney in the state of Missouri to divide any fees or compensation received by him in the practice of law or in doing law business with any person not a licensed attorney or any firm not wholly composed of licensed attorneys, or any association or corporation, and any person, firm, association or corporation violating this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction therefor shall be punished by a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than five hundred dollars and costs of prosecution, which fine shall be paid into the treasury of the state of Missouri.
2. Any person, firm, association or corporation who shall violate the foregoing prohibition of this section shall be subject to be sued for treble the amount of any and all sums of money paid in violation hereof by the person, persons, association or corporation paying the fees or compensation which shall have been so divided and if such person, persons, association or corporation shall not sue for or recover the same within two years from the date of such division of fees or compensation, the state of Missouri shall have the right to and shall sue for and recover said treble amount, which shall upon recovery be paid into the treasury of the state of Missouri.
Terms Used In Missouri Laws 484.150
- Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
- Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
- person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, and to partnerships and other unincorporated associations. See Missouri Laws 1.020
- Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.
- State: when applied to any of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" includes such district and territories. See Missouri Laws 1.020
3. It is hereby made the duty of the attorney general of the state of Missouri or the prosecuting attorney of any county or city in which service of process may be had upon the person, firm, association or corporation liable therefor, to institute all suits necessary for the recovery of said sums of money by the state of Missouri.