Tort or Contract?  Legal malpractice is really neither of the two bi-polar options; it is a melding of both.  Privity of contact is required in a tort setting.  Statutes of limitation for contract are calculated on a tort scale.  The list goes on and on.

Willig v Danzig, Fishman & Decea  2018 NY Slip Op…

One unique aspect of matrimonial litigation is that a very large percentage of the cases are settled in court, typically on the day of trial.  This leads to in court settlement allocutions.  Settlement in court with a time deadline looming leads to hastily constructed settlement agreements.  While millions of dollars might be at stake, the…

Gross v Aronson, Mayefsky & Sloan, LLP    2018 NY Slip Op 31590(U)  July 10, 2018
Supreme Court, New York County  Docket Number: 153274/2017  Judge: Anthony Cannataro demonstrates how hard it is to link up bad outcomes with a cognizable legal malpractice claim.  It’s a matrimonial case in which the father guaranteed legal fee payments for…

A medical malpractice case is almost always a tragedy.  Someone has been unnecessarily hurt, someone has unnecessarily died.  How can it get worse?

Marinelli v Sullivan Papain Block McGrath &  Cannavo, P.C.  2018 NY Slip Op 31610(U)
July 10, 2018  Supreme Court, Kings County  Docket Number: 519958/2016  Judge: Marsha L. Steinhardt is one example of…

Plaintiff hired attorney to represent him in a mediation with Morgan Stanley in 2014.  Plaintiff settled on a $ 267K package, and then several years later sued his attorney.  Reches v Sack & Sack, LLP  2018 NY Slip Op 31643(U)  June 28, 2018  Supreme Court, Kings County  Docket Number: 511057/2017  Judge: Dawn M. Jimenez-Salta…

Some of the most unusual and unstable law arises from chance litigation between pro-se plaintiffs and professional defendants. Borges v Placeres  2018 NY Slip Op 28224  Decided on June 27, 2018  Civil Court Of The City Of New York, New York County  Ramseur, J. is a wonderful example.  Immigration plaintiff sues immigration attorney for…

It’s a question of professional malpractice and it involves horses.  Tichner v Goldens Bridge Inc.  2018 NY Slip Op 31488(U)  July 2, 2018  Supreme Court, New York County  Docket Number: 651517/13  Judge: Nancy M. Bannon is about a girl who gets her pony.  She rides the pony, competes with the pony, and then sues the…

It’s an age-old story.  Trusted assistant embezzles money to pay for private life style, while trusting principal serenely depends on accountants, banks and others to protect him.  Naturally, it all goes wrong.  Weiser v Citigroup, Inc.     2018 NY Slip Op 31381(U)  June 25, 2018  Supreme Court, New York County  Docket Number: 655851/16  Judge: Nancy M.…