Jurors in Park City, Utah found prominent West Coast law firm Stoel Rives guilty of legal malpractice in a botched real estate development deal. The firm must now pay their former client $12.8 million in damages. The suit also named one of the firm’s top real estate and construction law partners, Thomas Ellison. According to […]
PA Supreme Court Refuses To Dismiss $500 Million Legal Malpractice Suit
Earlier this week the Pennsylvania Supreme Court refused to dismiss a $500 million legal malpractice case against AmLaw 100 firm, K&L Gates. That decision paves the way for the case to head to trial. The firm was sued years ago by a bankruptcy trustee on behalf of Le-Nature, Inc. The company filed for bankruptcy after […]
Two Law Firms Accused Of Assisting Ponzi Scheme (Legal Malpractice Post)
[Updated August 2019] As an attorney, I am required to take an oath to support the Constitution and to never counsel or support any action that appears unjust. It is unfortunate that much of society views lawyers as nothing more than “hired guns.” Sometimes we are even called “whores.” Despite how we may be labeled […]
The Dark Side Of The Legal Profession (Ethics and Legal Malpractice)
by Brian Mahany A shocking 78-page complaint filed in a San Francisco federal court last week opens a rare window into the inner workings of some law firms. Like that old adage about watching sausage being made, the plaintiff does not paint a pretty picture. From excessive billing practices to conflicts of interest and false […]
Noted Law Firm Sued For Legal Malpractice
by Brian Mahany I haven’t moved to Texas yet but I do read the Texas Lawyer. Last month they reported on a lawsuit against legal giant Baker Botts. The estate of a Houston man says the firm made an estate planning error that cost the man’s heirs over $1 million. The suit claims that back […]
"Big Law" On Trial For Missing Statute of Limitations – Legal Malpractice
by Brian Mahany We don’t like to see lawyers make mistakes. It happens, however, and hurts the reputation of the entire profession. Often the mistake can be fixed for little or no cost. There might be some attorney’s fees or sanctions levied against the offending lawyer but most claims are easily resolved. Sometimes they are […]
Lawyer Guilty of Fraud
Buried in today’s newspaper was a small headline, “Brookfield Lawyer Pleads Guilty to Fraud.” Whether local or out-of-town, I hate reading those headlines. When public officials, lawyers or cops steal, everyone suffers – not just their victims. In today’s case Thomas Bielinski pleaded guilty to felony theft by fraud. According to press reports, Bielinski combed […]