Most people as well as a lot of lawyers stop their legal malpractice analysis at the first element:  departure from good practice.  The battle in real legal malpractice cases almost always takes place in the third element:  “but for” proximate causation.  Lindenwood Vil., Section C Coop. Corp. v  Denenberg ,2020 NY Slip Op 32572(U)…

There are scholarly works (in the form of law review articles) which argue that the courts tilt towards attorneys in legal malpractice cases.  It is logical that such a prejudice might exist.  Legal malpractice (and ethical) rules are written by attorneys, apply to attorneys, are reviewed by attorneys and are acted upon by judge-attorneys.  Any…

Legal malpractice issues arise in all kinds of settings. in Wikked Entertainment, Inc. v Burbacki  2020 NY Slip Op 32375(U)  July 20, 2020 Supreme Court, New York County Docket Number: 652352/2018 Judge: Andrew Borrok the setting is a claimed hiring of a niece as an attorney to a talent management agency, and the claimed attempted…

Almost unheard of, Plaintiff was granted summary judgment on liability in this legal malpractice case.

Reem Contr. v Altschul & Altschul  2020 NY Slip Op 32301(U)  July 13, 2020  Supreme Court, New York County  Docket Number: 104202/2011  Judge: Kelly A. O’Neill Levy is the one-in-a-million where Plaintiff obtains a summary judgment order in a legal…

The continuous intertwining of legal malpractice and real estate in NYC cases is not merely coincidence.  It is a marriage of money and dispute resolution.  Community Assn. of the E. Harlem Triangle, Inc. v Butts  2020 NY Slip Op 32163(U)  June 29, 2020  Supreme Court, New York County  Docket Number: 656028/2018  Judge: Andrea Masley puts…

The situation is not unusual.  Attorneys represent client in a transnational setting, and the transaction is compromised, but not yet finished.  Three years are about to pass.  What is the plaintiff to do?  If you do not sue, the statute will pass.  if you do sue, defendant will say that it is too early.  Economic …

Spoliation of evidence is a certain basis for dismissal.  Negligently, or even worse, intentionally allowing key evidence to be lost or destroyed deprives the opponent of discoverable exculpatory evidence.  Such loss is rarely countenanced.

Manno v Hayes Law Practice, PLLC  2020 NY Slip Op 31228(U)  May 6, 2020  Supreme Court, Kings County  Docket Number: Index…

In a recurring theme, the “but for” element of legal malpractice is the place where battles are lost.  Rag & Bone Holdings LLC v Hand Baldachin & Assoc. LLP  2020 NY Slip Op 31149(U) May 2, 2020 Supreme Court, New York County Docket Number: Index No. 156994/2019  Judge: Andrea Masley is a fine example.  The…