Defendants in this legal malpractice case argued that there was a missing party, and that the lack of privity between plaintiff and the defendant attorney was fatal.  They lost in Supreme Court, and on appeal, continued to lose.

Mr. San, LLC v Zucker & Kwestel, LLP   2013 NY Slip Op 08416   Decided on December 18, 2013  Appellate Division, Second Department  held that Justice Bucaria was correct when he denied defendant’s motion. 
 "Applying these principles, the Supreme Court properly denied those branches of the defendants’ motion which were pursuant to CPLR 3211(a)(1) and (7) to dismiss the first cause of action, which sought to recover damages for legal malpractice. While the complaint does not allege an attorney-client relationship between the plaintiffs and the defendants, it sets forth a claim which falls within "the narrow exception of fraud, collusion, malicious acts or other special circumstances" under which a cause of action alleging attorney malpractice may be asserted absent a showing of privity (Ginsburg Dev. Cos., LLC v Carbone, 85 AD3d 1110, 1112 [internal quotation marks omitted]; see Aranki v Goldman & Assoc., LLP, 34 AD3d 510, 511-512; Griffith v Medical Quadrangle, Inc., 5 AD3d 151, 152). Furthermore, the documentary evidence submitted by the defendants does not conclusively establish a defense to this cause of action as a matter of law (see CPLR 3211[a][1]).

Contrary to the defendants’ contention, the Supreme Court providently exercised its discretion in denying that branch of the defendants’ motion which was pursuant to CPLR 1001 to direct the plaintiffs to join BarCred Holdings Affiliates, LLC (hereinafter BarCred), as a party plaintiff. The defendants failed to demonstrate that BarCred needed to be joined in order to accord complete relief between the parties, or that BarCred would be inequitably affected by a judgment in this action absent its joinder (see CPLR 1001[a]; Mason Tenders Dist. Council Welfare Fund v Diamond Constr. & Maintenance, Inc., 84 AD3d 754, 755; Spector v Toys "R" Us, Inc., 12 AD3d 358, 359; O’Brien v Town of Huntington, 308 AD2d 479, 481). "

This is a convoluted case, which started as a products liability-fall from a ladder- case, morphed into a legal malpractice case, went to trial and was prematurely dismissed during plaintiff’s case, was reversed on appeal and now comes back on a preclusion motion. The problem in Burbige v Siben & Ferber 2012 NY Slip Op 32086(U)   Sup Ct, Nassau County Docket Number: 010334/07 Judge: Randy Sue Marber is that there is no ladder. In this case, no ladder, no proof that the ladder was defective. Whose fault is it?

"As to the order of preclusion, this Court begins with noting that, here, the Appellate Division has not only directed a new trial but has specifically set forth the evidentiary issue inadequately established at the original trial by the Plaintiff; to wit plaintiff() fail ( ed) to make an offer of proof that he would have been successful in the underlying products liability action by offering expert testimony that the ladder from which he fell was defective. Consequently, the issue becomes whether the Plaintiff should be permitted to now present evidence that it could have properly presented at the first trial, the expert affidavit necessary to establish his success in the underlying products liability action.

Based upon the papers presented for this Court’ s consideration, this Court finds that the Plaintiff s failure to disclose his expert was in fact willful and intentional. Indeed the Appellate Division found that the Plaintiff s offer of proof was inadequate and wholly insufficient due to the absence of an expert affidavit demonstrating the merits of the underlying products liability action. Perhaps more critical is the fact that counsel for the Plaintiff, in support of his cross-motion infra again states that "the case law and the circumstances do not war ant the plaintiff to obtain an expert" (Aff. In Supp. Of Cross- Motion 6). Furthermore, the Plaintiff has failed entirely, even at this juncture in opposition
to the Defendants s instant motion, to proffer a reasonable excuse, under the circumstances
for his delay in furnishing name and affidavit of his expert (CPLR ~ 3101 (d) (I); Wartski v. C.W Post Campus of Long Is. Univ. 63 A.DJd 916 917 (2 Dept. 2009)). Moreover the Defendants wil clearly be prejudiced should this Court determination be to permit the Plaintiff to now submit the name and testimony of their expert. Although a new trial has been granted by the Appellate Division and further that the Appellate Division has specifically set forth the evidentiary issue inadequately
established at the original trial, the fact is that the Plaintiff has, nonetheless, failed to meet his burden, under CPLR ~ 3101 that would sufficiently oppose the Defendants’ entitlement to preclusion. In fact, the Plaintiff has even failed to establish his burden under 22 NYCRR 202.21 (d) that would permit this Court to award post-note of issue discovery (cf Scanga Family Practice Assocs. of Rockland, P. c., 2006 WL 6822760 (Sup. Ct. Rockland 2006); Bierzynskiv. New York Central Railroad Co. 59 Misc. 2d 315 (Sup. Ct. Erie 1969) aff’ d29 2d 804 (1971) rearg. denied 30 N. 2d 790 (1972)).

Counsel for the Plaintiff bases his entire motion on a spoliation of the evidence argument; that is, counsel for the Plaintiff submits that allegedly for more than 16 years counsel for the Defendants, failed to inspect and preserve the defective ladder, failed to obtain expert reports with respect to the defectively manufactured ladder, and effectively destroyed the key physical evidence of the defective ladder prior to the commencement of the Plaintiff s legal malpractice action. Spoliation of evidence is a factual and legal question in this malpractice case involving an underlying products liability claim. Spoliation of evidence occurs where a litigant intentionally or negligently disposes of crucial items of evidence before his or her adversaries have any opportunity to inspect them (Kirkland v. New York City Housing Authority, 236 A. 2d 170 (1st Dept. 1997)).

The underlying action was one sounding in products liability. The Plaintiff claims herein that the product that was alleged to be defectively designed or manufactured the ladder, was negligently or intentionally lost or destroyed subsequent to his accident and before anyone had an opportunity to inspect it. Although the Plaintiff charges his former attorneys in the underlying action, the Defendants herein, with spoliation of evidence, the Plaintiff makes no attempts to show that the ladder in question was ever in the possession of the Defendants or that it existed or was available when they were retained. "
 

The question of how a competent and qualified attorney would handle a case is the crux of Bua v Purcell & Ingrao, P.C. 2012 NY Slip Op 06908    Appellate Division, Second Department . At issue is whether attorney committed malpractice in the termination of a real estate contract of sale.

"The plaintiff commenced this action to recover damages allegedly sustained as a result of the defendants’ legal malpractice. The amended complaint alleged that the plaintiff retained the defendants to represent and advise him in connection with the sale of certain real property. The plaintiff entered into a contract of sale with a buyer, who tendered a deposit to be held in escrow. The amended complaint further alleged that, prior to the closing date, the buyer’s attorney attempted to terminate the contract of sale because the buyer was unable to obtain financing for the purchase. The defendant Joseph A. Ingrao informed the plaintiff that the buyer wished to cancel the contract of sale, and the plaintiff agreed to cancel the contract and return the deposit.

The amended complaint stated that Ingrao sent the buyer’s attorney a letter "purporting to terminate" the contract of sale and returning the deposit. More than seven months later, however, the buyer attempted to revive the contract of sale and purchase the property under its terms. The plaintiff refused, maintaining that the contract had been terminated. The buyer subsequently commenced an action against the plaintiff for specific performance of the contract of sale and filed a notice of pendency. In that action, the plaintiff argued, inter alia, that the contract of sale, had been terminated when the deposit was returned. The plaintiff also commenced a holdover proceeding. The plaintiff ultimately prevailed in the specific performance action.

The amended complaint asserted that the defendants committed malpractice by failing to "obtain a clear and unambiguous termination of the [contract of sale] after [the buyer’s] attorneys advised Ingrao that she wished to terminate the [contract of sale]." The amended complaint listed various things that the plaintiff claimed the defendants "should have done" in order to accomplish [*2]a "clear and unambiguous" termination of the contract of sale. "

"The standard to which the defendant’s conduct is to be compared is not that of the most highly skilled attorney, nor is it that of the average member of the legal profession, but that of an attorney who is competent and qualified (see Restatement [Second] of Torts: Negligence § 299A, Comment e). The conduct of legal matters routinely "involve[ ] questions of judgment and discretion as to which even the most distinguished members of the profession may differ" (Byrnes v Palmer, 18 App Div 1, 4, affd 160 NY 699). Absent an express agreement, an attorney is not a guarantor of a particular result (see Byrnes v Palmer, 18 App Div at 4; see also 1B NY PJI3d 2:152, at 140-141 [2012]), and may not be held "liable in negligence for . . . the exercise of appropriate judgment that leads to an unsuccessful result" (Rubinberg v Walker, 252 AD2d 466, 467; see Grago v Robertson, 49 AD2d 645, 646; see also PJI 2:152).

It follows that "[the] selection of one among several reasonable courses of action does not constitute malpractice" (Rosner v Paley, 65 NY2d 736, 738; see Dimond v Kazmierczuk & McGrath, 15 AD3d 526, 527). Attorneys are free to act in a manner that is "reasonable and consistent with the law as it existed at the time of representation," without exposing themselves to liability for malpractice (Darby & Darby v VSI Intl., 95 NY2d 308, 315; see Noone v Stieglitz, 59 AD3d 505, 507; Iocovello v Weingrad & Weingrad, 4 AD3d 208, 208). "

"In conclusion, as the plaintiff effectively concedes, he is estopped from denying that the defendants effected a legally valid termination of the contract of sale. To the extent that the allegations in the amended complaint are not barred by the doctrine of judicial estoppel, they fail to state a cause of action to recover damages for legal malpractice. Accordingly, the defendants’ motion to dismiss the amended complaint was properly granted and the plaintiff’s cross motion was properly denied as academic."
 

There is nothing new in the case of Jack Hall Plumbing & Heating, Inc. v Duffy 2012 NY Slip Op 07249   Appellate Division, Third Department , merely a restatement of the long-standing and settled rule that expert opinion is required to show that there was / was not a departure from good and accepted practice. Supreme Court got it wrong, and the Third Department corrected Supreme Court, not once but twice.
 

"Soon after entering into the agreement, the relationship between the Halls and Scudder [*2]deteriorated to the point that Hall became concerned that he and his sons were in danger of losing the business due to Scudder’s mismanagement. Accordingly, Hall sought legal advice from defendant H. Wayne Judge concerning how to terminate Scudder in compliance with the employment agreement and in view of the urgency caused by the perceived danger to the business. After their meeting, Judge drafted a letter for Hall to give to Scudder. The letter outlined the reasons for Scudder’s termination and informed him that it was effective immediately. Hall and his sons then unanimously voted to terminate Scudder without giving Scudder notice and an opportunity to respond, after which Hall gave Scudder the letter drafted by Judge. Scudder responded by commencing an action against plaintiff for breach of the employment agreement. Although plaintiff, represented by Judge, prevailed at the trial of that action, we reversed and found that plaintiff failed to comply with the unambiguous terms of the employment agreement by terminating Scudder without any notice or opportunity to respond (Scudder v Jack Hall Plumbing & Heating, 302 AD2d 848 [2003]). Plaintiff then commenced this action alleging that defendants committed legal malpractice by negligently advising plaintiff in connection with Scudder’s termination. After joinder of issue and discovery, defendants moved for summary judgment dismissing plaintiff’s complaint. Finding that plaintiff’s opposing papers were inadequate to raise an issue of fact, Supreme Court granted the motion.

Plaintiff contends on appeal that defendants failed to meet their initial burden of presenting evidence in admissible form establishing that they had exercised the ordinary reasonable skill and knowledge commonly possessed by a member of the legal profession in discharging their obligations to plaintiff (see Rudolf v Shayne, Dachs, Stanisci, Corker & Sauer, 8 NY3d 438, 442 [2007]; Geraci v Munnelly, 85 AD3d 1361, 1362 [2011]; Adamski v Lama, 56 AD3d 1071, 1072 [2008]). This issue of the adequacy of the professional services provided here requires a professional or expert opinion to define the standard of professional care and skill owed to plaintiff and to establish whether the attorney’s conduct complied with that standard (see Tabner v Drake, 9 AD3d 606, 610 [2004]; Ehlinger v Ruberti, Girvin & Ferlazzo, 304 AD2d 925, 926 [2003]; Greene v Payne, Wood & Littlejohn, 197 AD2d 664, 666 [1993]). Plaintiff argues that the affirmation by Judge submitted in support of defendants’ motion for summary judgment fails to establish his prima facie compliance with the standard of care. We must agree.

According to Judge, based on his reading of the contract and plaintiff’s bylaws, he formed a legal opinion that the employment agreement was ambiguous and that immediate termination was consistent with its terms. Judge was motivated, however, by Hall’s desire for urgency and his own view that engaging in the termination process provided for by the agreement would damage plaintiff’s business. While Judge offers his legal conclusion and the business-related motivation behind it, his affirmation is insufficient to establish compliance with the applicable standard of care because he neither defines that standard nor explains that a reasonable attorney would reach the same conclusion that he did on the facts as they were presented to him. In short, Judge’s explanation of the urgency of the business factors that he considered in formulating the advice that he gave fails to establish that his legal advice was within the standard of care.

Further, Judge’s reliance on the fact that he initially prevailed at trial as proof that his interpretation of the employment agreement was reasonable is also misplaced as that order was reversed by this Court on the law (Scudder v Jack Hall Plumbing & Heating, 302 AD2d at 851). Accordingly, the argument that any error was one of judgment in selecting between reasonable alternatives must fail in light of the lack of a prima facie showing that the legal advice provided was a reasonable course of action. Inasmuch as defendants failed to shift the burden to plaintiff [*3]to demonstrate a departure from the standard of care, the motion for summary judgment should have been denied (see Suppiah v Kalish, 76 AD3d 829, 832 [2010]; Ehlinger v Ruberti, Girvin & Ferlazzo, 304 AD2d at 927; Estate of Nevelson v Carro, Spanbock, Kaster & Cuiffo, 259 AD2d 282, 284 [1999]). "
 

We have mused on the eagerness with which Courts sometimes exhibit in granting early dismissal of legal malpractice cases, sometimes prematurely grappling with the "but for" portion of the case well before a good record is developed.  In Carter Ledyard & Millburn LLP v Pearl Seas Cruises, LLC  2013 NY Slip Op 33081(U)  December 5, 2013  Sup Ct, New York County  Docket Number: 155872/2013  Judge: Eileen A. Rakower we see a reasoned approach to the motion practice.  The Court notes that there are questions of fact on whether the client objected to attorney’s bills, and decides that the affirmative defenses are well pleaded.  From the decision:

"Kennedy avers that in August 2008, pursuant to a written letter of engagement, Pearl Seas retained Plaintiff as legal counsel in connection with a pending arbitration arising out of a contract for the construction of a passenger vessel, Plaintiff continued to represent Pearl Seas through October 7, 2011, Plaintiff continued to send invoices to Pearl Seas for its services, Pearl Seas
admitted receiving and retaining invoices from Plaintiff and made partial payments. In opposition, Defendant submits the affidavit of Charles A. Robertson, which avers that Pearl Seas repeatedly complained about Kennedy’s performance, objected to the firm’s invoices, and terminated the firm due to Kennedy’s performance. Furthermore, Defendant contends that discovery is needed from
Plaintiff, including documents and testimony from Kennedy and his associate, Christopher Rizzo, regarding Defendant’s complaints about Kennedy’s performance and objection to Plaintiffs invoices."

In light of issues of fact concerning whether Defendant objected to the invoices and Plaintiff’s performance and Defendant’s outstanding First Notice for Discovery and Inspection and Notice to Take Deposition, Plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment is denied."

"On a motion to dismiss pursuant to CPLR §321 l(a)(l) "the court may grant dismissal when documentary evidence submitted conclusively establishes a defense to the asserted claims as a matter of law." (Beal Sav. Bank v. Sommer, 8 NY3d 318, 324 [2007]) (internal citations omitted) "When evidentiary material is considered, the criterion is whether the proponent of the pleading has a cause of action, not whether he has stated one." (Guggenheimer v. Ginzburg, 43 N.Y.2d
268, 2 7 5 [ 1977]) (emphasis added). A movant is entitled to dismissal under CPLR §3211 when his or her evidentiary submissions flatly contradict the legal conclusions and factual allegations of the complaint. (Rivietz v. Wolohojian, 3 8 A.D.3d 301 [1st Dept. 2007]) (citation omitted). Pearl Seas sets forth the following "facts common to all counterclaims:"

13. Mr. Kennedy advised Pearl Seas that the company would prevail in its dispute with Irving Shipbuilding. He repeatedly gave assurances of success to Pearl Seas, all of which failed, as described below, because of his poor performance and legal malpractice.
14. However, Mr. Kennedy’s performance was in sharp contrast to his assurances. In fact, Mr. Kennedy’s and Counterclaim Defendants’ performance as counsel for Pearl Seas fell far below the standard of care required of attorneys.
15. Specifically, and among other failings, Mr. Kennedy was routinely unprepared for appearances before the arbitration panel and in federal court.

16. Mr. Kennedy also failed to adequately understand critical legal issues, including the law relating to the issuance and timing of classification certificates. 17. Mr. Kennedy’s cross-examinations of key witnesses at the arbitration hearing were poor. They were unfocused, poorly conceived, and poorly executed. Indeed, Mr. Kennedy’s cross-examinations were so poor that
Pearl Seas forced him to allow his junior associate to examine a key witness. 18. Mr. Kennedy’s arguments to the arbitration panel were equally poor. He failed to make obvious arguments, and was extremely combative with the panel. 19. Mr. Kennedy also botched a key witness interview with a potentially critical witness, James Shephard, which further compromised Pearl Seas’ case.
20. From Pearl Seas’ perspective, Mr. Kennedy’s poor performance in the arbitration had caused the arbitration panel to tum against it, notwithstanding his repeated assurances of success. Indeed, Pearl Seas expected to do far better than they ultimately did in the arbitration, which
was a direct result of Counterclaim Defendants’ malpractice. 21. Mr. Kennedy also exhibited strange and unprofessional behavior outside of the arbitration. He was unwilling to take advice from anyone else, and did not work well with the term that Pearl Seas had put in place. He was unfocused and scatterbrained. He would frequently cut critical meetings short in order to get home to watch a television program that he said he was "addicted to."
22. Fearful that it was going to lose what was a winnable case, on or about October 7, 2011, Pearl Seas terminated Mr. Kennedy and his firm’s representation of the company. Pearl Seas was forced to retain another law firm, which only added to the expenses related to the arbitration, but which
did turn the case around immediately and produced an acceptable result. 23. In total, Pearl Seas paid Counterclaim Defendant more than $2.2 million for its services, which had no value. That does not include the amounts that Counterclaim Defendant claim are due in this lawsuit.
24. Pearl Seas repeatedly made clear that it was unhappy with Mr. Kennedy’s performance, and that it disputed the amounts billed to it."

"Accepting all allegations as true, Defendant has stated a counterclaim for legal malpractice and Plaintiffs proffered evidentiary submissions do not flatly contradict the legal conclusions and factual allegations of this counterclaim."

High end financing companies tailored to the art and antique world hit a bare patch, and suddenly are in $20 Million + financing difficulties.  They hire plaintiff law firm in the Hahn & Hessen LLP v Peck   2013 NY Slip Op 33017(U)  November 25, 2013  Sup Ct, New York County  Docket Number: 603122/08  Judge: Barbara Jaffe which is seeking its attorney fees.  Simply put, in the face of extremely sophisticated financing agreements, and multiple-draft settlement agreements of disputes valued at over $ 20 million, counterclaimant’s case derives from the unsophisticated claims that he was unaware of the terms of the settlements.

"In 2007, SageCrest II, LLC (SageCrest), a private equity firm, sued defendants, alleging  that they had defaulted under the terms of a loan. (SageCrest II LLC v ACG Credit Company, LLC, et al., index No. 600195/2007). (NYSCEF 157). On or about September 11, 2007, another justice of this court granted an ex parte order of attachment against defendants ACG Credit Company, LLC and Art Capital Group II, LLC (ACG II), securing $29,841,156.19 allegedly owed SageCrest. Following a mediation session on January 25, 2008, the parties signed a shortform settlement agreement, which, inter alia, requires that defendants pay SageCrest $29,925,000, $21 million of which would effectively vacate the order of attachment. The agreement is subject to further revisions and final documentation, and either party is authorized to submit it to the court to be so-ordered. (Id., Exh. B).Unable to secure the $21 million, defendants, represented by plaintiff, sought to renegotiate the terms of the settlement, offering $14.3 million in cash and an assignment of $6.7 million in loans due defendant ACG II. SageCrest rejected defendants’ offer and sought by motion to have the court so-order the short-form agreement. (NYSCEF 157, Exh. C). In response, defendants sought, also by motion, to have the proposed assignment treated as the "cash equivalent" of the $6.7 million. They attached to their motion an affidavit from Peck asserting his repeated and unsuccessful efforts to assure SageCrest that the loans would be paid. (Id., Exh. D). "

"At an EBT held on June 27, 2011, Peck testified that he recalled questioning Newman on May 18 as to whether the agreement protected him personally, and that Newman responded that the pledged loans were the sole security for the assignment, along with the "credit enhancement
of my limited personal guarantee," and that this limitation of liability was the "beauty of the settlement." (NYSCEF 168). Although Peck conceded that he had no reason to believe that SageCrest had agreed to the sole recourse provision, he nonetheless maintained that he thought
that the sole recourse provision was included in the final agreement. (NYSCEF 168).At an EBT held on June 27, 2011, Peck testified that he recalled questioning Newman on May 18 as to whether the agreement protected him personally, and that Newman responded that the pledged loans were the sole security for the assignment, along with the "credit enhancement of my limited personal guarantee," and that this limitation of liability was the "beauty of the settlement." (NYSCEF 168). Although Peck conceded that he had no reason to believe that SageCrest had agreed to the sole recourse provision, he nonetheless maintained that he thought that the sole recourse provision was included in the final agreement. (NYSCEF 168)."

"Plaintiff has thus established, primafacie, that it did not breach the standard of professional care and that its actions were not the proximate cause of the 2009 action. (See Engelke v Brown Rudnick Berlack Israels LLP, _ NYS2d _, 2013 NY Slip Op 07419 [1st Dept 2013] [plaintiff could not show with sufficient certainty that, absent alleged malpractice, he would have been able to avert defending second lawsuit]; Natural Organics Inc. v Anderson Kill & Glick, P.C., 67 AD3d 541, 542 [1st Dept 2009], Iv dismissed 14 NY3d 881 [2010] [plaintiff failed to demonstrate causal connection between alleged malpractice and injuries]; Cohen v Weitzner, 47 AD3d 594, 595 [1st Dept 2008] [typographical error on defendant attorneys’  spreadsheet not proximate cause of plaintiffs’ injury]; Leder v Speigel, 31 AD3d 266, 268 [1st Dept 2006], affd 9 NY3d 836 [2007], cert denied 552 US 1257 [2008] [plaintiffs malpractice claim based on unsupported, conclusory assertion that defendant’s alleged erroneous advice proximately caused injury]; Merz v Seaman, 265 AD2d 385, 389 [2d Dept 1999] [defendant attorneys who allegedly negligently drafted contract not liable for failing to warn banker-client about repercussions of personal guarantee]; Levine v Lacher & Lovell-Taylor, 256 AD2d 147 [1st Dept 1998] [plaintiffs disposition of collateral in disregard of court order was sole proximate cause of his injury; that alleged negligent drafting of loan agreement contributed to injury …"

Supreme Court and the Appellate Division sometimes are able to perform surgery on a complaint, allowing provable claims and damages to remain in play while the balance is excised.  Such is the case in Morad Assoc., LLC v Lee   2013 NY Slip Op 08204   Decided on December 10, 2013
Appellate Division, First Department.   
 

We deduce that defendant attorney represented a landlord, and that a tenant was illegally evicted, and when evicted, his property was destroyed.  Both Justice Edmead and the AD found that the attorneys might be liable for the illegal eviction, but the AD conclusively held that attorneys were not responsible for the destruction.

"The evidence submitted by defendant attorney, while showing that he may not be liable for a large measure of the damages assessed against plaintiff, failed to establish as a matter of law that his alleged negligence was not the cause of at least some of those damages. In addition to the damage to the property of plaintiff’s tenant, plaintiff was also assessed damages for wrongful eviction for which defendant may be held liable. We find no basis for holding defendant liable for any damages plaintiff incurred when its agents destroyed the tenant’s property. "

Wherever attorneys do their work the question of legal malpractice may arise. In today’s New York Law Journal, Joel Cohen and James Bernard present an excellent compilation of potential legal malpractice issues in the ESI area.  Investigation of electronically stored information has become a central issue in litigation since the Zabulake v. USB Warburg decision.  As the country becomes more involved in social media, further sophistication is required.  Even the question of when an attorney may use public Wi-Fi is discussed.   From the article "The ‘Ethic’ of Getting up to Speed ‘Technologically’ by Cohen and Bernard:

"When things end up poorly in a case, whether the client deserved to win or not, the client may decide to come after his criminal lawyer claiming malpractice, either in a civil action or in a post-conviction proceeding claiming "ineffectiveness." He may argue that the lawyer 1) didn’t explain all of the litigating options to me; or 2) was "ineffective" in investigating the case, or in cross-examining key witnesses; or 3) did not let me, or mistakenly encouraged me to, take the witness stand in my own defense.

Examples may range from a lawyer’s failure to obtain text messages (we all know about emails), to a failure to obtain posts on a Facebook page, to a more common failure to adequately preserve electronic materials. Which disgruntled client, particularly one sitting in a jail cell, wouldn’t use the judge’s remarks to try to nail to the wall his now or soon-to-be-terminated lawyer for malpractice or—maybe, worse for his reputation at the bar—by claiming "ineffective assistance of counsel" in a post-conviction appeal or collateral attack on his conviction? For in such a lawsuit, appeal or collateral attack he will "name [his lawyer’s] name" as ineffectually having tried the case by tying his own arm behind his back against—perhaps a younger—prosecutor more in tune with modern Internet technology.

The origins of the modern technological revolution in the art of lawyering can probably trace itself back to a number of milestones: the first Westlaw/Lexis terminals, the advent of the Internet and, on the judicial front, Judge Shira A. Scheindlin’s decisions in the seminal Zubulake case. Whether you believe that the decisions opened up a Pandora’s box of litigation costs and burdens for defendants, or whether you believe they gave plaintiffs access to critical evidence which would have otherwise been destroyed, there is no question that Zubulake changed the way litigators think about and prepare cases. It also required us to learn more about technology issues. As Scheindlin wrote in Zubulake V: "[C]ounsel must become fully familiar with her client’s document retention policies, as well as the client’s data retention architecture. This will invariably involve speaking with information technology personnel and the actual (as opposed to theoretical) implementation of the firm’s recycling policy."1 In other words, counsel had to get tech savvy.

And it is worth asking, if a lawyer fails to "get smart," what are the consequences? Of course, there are the potential sanctions that might be available to the aggrieved party. But can, after this new Comment 8, a lawyer face an ethics charge for this sort of lapse in knowledge? It is quite possible that it could be the basis for a malpractice claim if the failure to discuss these issues with a client resulted in a serious enough sanction, such as dismissal of a claim or defense.

Given all of the resources which have been devoted to educating the bar about the need to preserve electronic information, emails, documents, etc., it is not too hard to imagine a client claiming that the failure to do so in this day and age amounts to malpractice, even though that would not have been the case however many years ago. In the criminal context, could it rise to the level of ineffective assistance of counsel resulting in a possible conviction reversal? Not too many years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court held that a lawyer provided ineffective assistance of counsel when the lawyer failed to tell a client about the likelihood of deportation if a client pleaded guilty to drug distribution charges.2

There are obvious differences between working with a client on e-discovery issues and informing a client of the legal consequences of pleading guilty to a felony, but it is not impossible to imagine a scenario in which the failure to learn about a client’s technological infrastructure is egregious enough and results in a serious enough sanction so as to bring the attorney’s behavior within the realm of a constitutional claim of ineffectiveness. After all, constitutional ineffectiveness under Strickland is triggered when counsel’s conduct falls "below an objective standard of reasonableness."3 What is "reasonable" in terms of what counsel is expected to know about e-discovery is rapidly changing, and only in the direction of requiring greater knowledge."