Questione giuridica chiave
Whether a costs award in the underlying civil judgment constitutes an enforceable judgment for the attorney’s fee claim against the client.
Decisione estratta
No. The costs award determined only the costs as between the litigants and the attorney; it did not adjudicate the internal debt relationship between attorney and client.
Motivazione estratta
The trial judge in the main case may fix recoverable costs and decide moderation issues, but not the existence of the attorney’s claim against the client. That claim must be pursued in an independent action between attorney and client.