Here is a newspaper article recounting the story of a rape-security trial at which the attorney failed to show.  Legal malpracitce and a roller coaster of dismissal, reversal, affirmance followed.

"The state Supreme Court declined Wednesday to hear a case in which a state appeals court ruled an Escondido rape victim can sue two civil attorneys for alleged legal malpractice.

The court’s decision leaves in place the January appeals court ruling that said the lawsuit against the attorneys, Mark Kelegian and Thomas Morgan, can proceed.

The attorneys represented the woman when she sued the landlord of the apartment complex where she was raped for allegedly failing to provide sufficient security at the property. Kelegian did not show up for the trial of that lawsuit, and the woman learned the case already had been dismissed, the appeals court ruling stated."