NJ has some traps for the unwary in legal malpractice, and this case showcases several of them. In CELESTE GUIA PINTO, v.MCGOVERN, PROVOST & COLRICK, SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY ,APPELLATE DIVISION DOCKET NO. A-3186-06T53186-06T5 we see the Puder rule on settlements, the rule on certificates of merit, and an application of the Sheridan v. Sheridan rule on reporting fraud.

Points of interest:  mother, an immigrant, accumulates a significant estate, including 5 properties.  She wants to reward son, and asks him to get an attorney to draw up a will which will give him some of the funds and part of some of the properties.  She signs what eventually turns out to be deeds making them joint owners of all the properties.

Read on, in the case for how the settlement turns out to sink the legal malpractice case.