In matrimonial litigation, cases routinely end with an in-court settlement which includes an allocution of the parties.  Husband and wife are both asked whether they understand the settlement, and importantly, whether they “are satisfied with the work of their attorney.”  In a line of cases the First Department has writeen (as in Harvey v. Greenberg) : “The trial judge in the underlying matrimonial action conducted a thorough allocution on the stipulation of settlement. Plaintiff acknowledged that she understood and agreed with the terms of the settlement and knew that it was a full and final agreement. She further stated that her attorney had answered her questions and that she was satisfied with the services he provided. Under these circumstances, the motion court properly dismissed the complaint (see Weissman v Kessler, 78 AD3d 465 [2010]; Katebi v Fink, 51 AD3d 424 [2008]).

Today, it decided differently in Tuppatsch v LoPreto  2016 NY Slip Op 02034  Decided on March 22, 2016  Appellate Division, First Department.

“Defendant moved to dismiss plaintiff’s malpractice claim, based on the express terms of the settlement agreement, in which plaintiff acknowledged that she was apprised of her rights and that she was not entering into the settlement agreement under duress. In opposition to defendant’s motion, plaintiff submitted her affidavit and several emails between the parties, in which plaintiff complains about defendant’s representation of her during settlement negotiations and defendant urges plaintiff to settle the matter and contemplates withdrawal as counsel.

Under the circumstances, the motion court correctly sustained the first cause of action because plaintiff has properly pleaded a cause of action for legal malpractice (see Fielding v Kupferman, 65 AD3d 437 [1st Dept 2009]). Her affidavit and attached emails are sufficient to support her allegations (see generally Global Bus. Inst. v Rivkin Radler LLP, 101 AD3d 651, 651 [1st Dept 2012]).”