Legal Malpractice LawyerThe New Hampshire Supreme Court recently disbarred an attorney, for practicing law while he was still serving a suspension for prior unethical conduct. In the Matter of Paul F Coddington, Jr, an attorney was suspended for professional misconduct and was subsequently hired by a law firm as a paralegal. The attorney falsely told his employer that he had applied to have his license reinstated. Thus, relying on this information, a lawyer at the firm permitted him to represent a client in court and handle cases.
Articles Posted in Legal Malpractice
In Re: Alexander R. Cain, No. BD-2015-018: Three Year suspension for Massachusetts Attorney for Making False Statements to Clients
The Supreme Judicial Court (“SJC”) recently suspended a Massachusetts attorney, who made intentional misrepresentations to four of his clients. In the matter of Alexander R. Cain, an attorney was found to have fabricated documents, lied to his clients, and failed to diligently pursue his client’s claims and interests.
Commission for Lawyer Discipline v. Charles D. Septowski, No. 201400356: Texas Attorney Disbarred for Practicing while Suspended
An Evidentiary Panel of the Grievance Committee for the State Bar of Texas has disbarred a Texas Attorney for practicing law while his license was suspended. In Commission for Lawyer Discipline v. Charles D. Septowski, an attorney was serving a three month suspension under a previous disciplinary judgment.
Rodriguez v. Jacoby & Meyers, LLP: 2015 NY Slip Op 02151: Client Sues Attorney for Delay in Obtaining Favorable Verdict
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York has recently affirmed the dismissal of a legal malpractice claim. In Rodriguez v Jacoby & Meyers, LLP, a client was injured in a rear-end car accident and subsequently retained a lawyer to represent him in a case against the other driver. Several years into the lawsuit, the lawyer filed a motion for summary judgment, seeking to establish liability. The motion was denied and the client then terminated the lawyer. He retained new counsel, who subsequently appealed the denial of the motion.
Roseland v. Wentzell, No. A14-1254: Minnesota Court of Appeals Affirms Summary Judgment for Attorney in Legal Malpractice Case
The Minnesota Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal of a legal malpractice, on the basis that the clients had not provided sufficient evidence to support their claims. In Roseland v. Wentzell, a couple owned several parcels of farmland, which they had mortgaged to secure a loan from their bank. They later defaulted on their mortgage payments, and hired an attorney to represent them in bankruptcy proceedings.
Balames v. Ginn No. S-13-1027: Nebraska Supreme Court Reinstates Jury Verdict for an Attorney in Legal Malpractice Case
The Supreme Court of Nebraska has vacated a trial court’s order granting a client’s motion for a new trial, and affirmed a jury verdict in favor an attorney. In Balames v. Ginn, a client filed a legal malpractice claim against his attorney, alleging that he had negligently failed to obtain the signatures of the client’s business partners as guarantors of a person loan the client made to the business. When the business subsequently defaulted on the loan, the client first discovered that the partners had never signed the loan agreement, and the guaranty was therefore unenforceable against them. Continue reading
Downs v. Dib, No. 319372: Michigan Court of Appeals Remands Dismissal of Legal Malpractice Case
The Michigan Court of Appeals reversed the dismissal of a legal malpractice action after determining that a material question of fact remained concerning when the attorney-client relationship had ended, and whether or not the malpractice claim had been brought within the applicable limitations period. In Downs v. Dib, a client hired an attorney to represent her in a medical malpractice case, stemming from the death of her daughter during childbirth. Continue reading
Smith v. DeZao, No. 2:13-cv-72: New Jersey Federal Judge Allows Attorney Accused of Malpractice to Conduct Additional Discovery Regarding Underlying Case
A Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey has held that an attorney defending a legal malpractice suit, is not limited to the discovery previously conducted in an underlying action. In Smith v. DeZao, a family hired an attorney to represent them in a wrongful death suit against a New Jersey timeshare company, which booked a vacation for the family at a resort in Mexico. Continue reading
Minnick v. Ennis, No. 41663: Supreme Court of Idaho Remands Dismissal of Legal Malpractice Case
The Supreme Court of Idaho has reversed the dismissal of a legal malpractice action on the basis that the case was not time-barred under the applicable statute of limitations. In Minnick v. Ennis, a husband and wife owned a large tract of land in Idaho, which they intended to develop into a residential subdivision. They hired an attorney to assist them with the project. Continue reading
People v. Samuel Reyes Escamilla, No. 14PDJ047: Colorado Attorney Suspended Following Violations of Professional Rules of Conduct
The Office of the Presiding Disciplinary Judge, located in Denver, has suspended a Colorado attorney from practicing law, following an investigation by the Colorado Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel (“ARC”). In People v. Samuel Reyes Escamilla, an attorney was disciplined as a result of his conduct in three separate client matters. Continue reading