GROCHOCINSKI v. MAYER BROWN ROWE & MAW, LLP, Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit 2013 – Google Scholar. The Seventh Circuit has affirmed the dismissal of this legal malpractice case filed by a bankruptcy trustee against Mayer Brown Rowe and Maw. This case has garnered some attention in the legal ethics…
Chicago Legal Malpractice Lawyer Blog
Legal Malpractice Claim Arises From Securities Law Error
Goldfine v. BARACK, FERRAZZANO, KIRSCHBAUM AND PERLMAN, Ill: Appellate Court, 1st Dist., 6th Div. 2013 – Google Scholar. The Illinois Appellate Court, First District, Sixth Division, has affirmed a judgment entered in favor of the plaintiff and against a defendant law firm. The allegation of negligence was that the law…
Secretary Turns In Lawyer – ARDC Files Complaint
BEFORE THE HEARING BOARD. This is a complaint filed by the ARDC, the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission. The ARDC’s complaint alleges that an attorney, Tina Marie Jacobs, filed a foreclosure case against a homeowner. The ARDC alleges that the lawyer failed to provide the homeowner with a grace period…
District Court Dismisses Divorce Malpractice Claim
VALUKAS v. BOTTI MARINACCIO, LTD, Dist. Court, ND Illinois 2013 – Google Scholar. This is a decision dismissing a divorce malpractice claim on statute of limitations grounds. The plaintiff, James Valukas, hired the defendant law firm to represent him in his divorce. Valukas claimed that the law firm negligently drafted…
ARDC Hearing Board Recommends Two Year Suspension For Misuse of Condo Funds
Filed June 12. The respondent, an attorney, was the President and Treasurer of her condo association. She allegedly used $5,666.29 in condominium funds for personal purchases. The Condominium association apparently reported her to the ARDC which filed a complaint. The Hearing Board states that the respondent had $175,000 in student…
LLC Member Lacks Standing To Sue For Legal Malpractice – Says Nebraska Court
KLINGELHOEFER v. PARKER, GROSSART, BAHENSKY & BEUCKE, LLP, 20 Neb. App. 825 – Neb: Court of Appeals 2013 – Google Scholar. This case concerns whether a member of an LLC can sue for legal malpractice the lawyers who represented the entity. The Nebraska Court of Appeals held that the plaintiff,…
The ARDC Accuses A Lawyer of Converting $80,000 From An Elderly Client – Elder Abuse
BEFORE THE HEARING BOARD. This is a disciplinary complaint filed by the ARDC against a lawyer. The ARDC alleges that the 93 year old client entrusted $80,000 to the lawyer. The lawyer used $79,963 of the funds for his own expenses and did not use any of the money for…
Most Trial Decisions Are Judgment Calls For the Lawyer To Make – Not the Client
This case is a somewhat routine affirmance of a bank fraud conviction and the rejection of an ineffective assistance of counsel claim. The Defendant alleged that her lawyer rendered ineffective assistance of counsel by failing to call certain witnesses at the trial of the case. In the criminal world, an…
Attorney Prevails In Attorney Lien Dispute with Client
EXACT SOFTWARE NORTH AMERICA, INC. v. DeMOISEY, Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit 2013 – Google Scholar. This is a dispute between an attorney and a client concerning an attorney lien. Such disputes are common. This case illustrates the correct way to protect a disputed legal fee with an attorney lien.…
Lawyers’ Claim For Insurance Rejected Because Claim Arose Before Policy Period
CLAUSON & ATWOOD v. PROFESSIONALS DIRECT INSURANCE CO., Dist. Court, D. New Hampshire 2013 – Google Scholar. This is yet another development in the huge and growing area of litigation between lawyers and their legal malpractice insurers. Here, the insurance company obtained summary judgment against the lawyers on the ground…