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Highlighted Case

Duane Morris LLP v. Astor Holdings Inc.

Background

Law firm brought action against clients, seeking to recover unpaid legal fees. The Supreme Court, New York County, Joan A. Madden, J., granted firm's motion for summary judgment on account stated cause of action, and granted in part and denied in part firm's summary judgment motion on clients' malpractice counterclaims. On reargument, the Supreme Court, New York County, granted firm's summary judgment motion on clients' malpractice counterclaims. Parties appealed.

Holdings

The Supreme Court, Appellate Division,held that:(1) lack of discovery did not require denial of firm'ssummary judgment motion as premature;(2) attorney was not guilty of malpractice in bringing underlying action in federal District Court, ratherthan Bankruptcy Court; and(3) client's legal malpractice claim was barred bystatute of limitations.

The following cases will be discussed during the course of the 2010 Legal Malpractice & Risk Management Conference. Cases are listed in correlation with the panel that will be discussing the cases. Click on the case name to be directed to a PDF of the opinion. All opinions provided by our sponsor, West.

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Standing to Sue, Privity and Duty of Disclosure

• Arlington Funding Services, Inc. v. Geigel, 2009 WL 357944 (V.I.)
• Cobalt Multifamily Investors I, LLC v. Shapiro, 2008 WL 833237 (S.D.N.Y.)
• Davis v. Scott, 2009 WL 367219 (Ky.App.)
• Chang v. Lederman, 172 Cal.App.4th 67, 90 Cal.Rptr.3d 758
• Leonard v. Dorsey & Whitney, LLP, 553 F.3d 609

Litigation/Litigation Attorney

• Fox Rothschild , L.L.P. v. Alanwood Trust, 2009 WL 614457 (N.J.Super.A.D.)
• Vaxiion Therapeutics, Inc. v. Foley & Lardner LLP, 593 F.Supp.2d 1153
• Williams v. Russ, 167 Cal.App.4th 1215, 84 Cal.Rptr.3d 813
• Orzel v. Szewcyzk, 2009 WL 1361616 (Ill.App. 1 Dist.)

The Attorney-Client Privilege and Work Product Doctrine – Client-Non Client Claims

• Shell v. Drew & Ward Co., LPA, 178 Ohio App.3d 163, 897 N.E.2d 201
• Helie v. McDermott, Will & Emery, 56 A.D.3d 398, 869 N.Y.S.2d 27
• United States v. Thompson, 562 F.3d 387
• Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P. v. Givaudin Flavors Corp., 2009 WL 1486553 (Ohio App. 8 Dist.)
• Asset Funding Group LLC v. Adams & Reese LLP, (Nov. 17, 2008 Info) Asset Funding Group LLC v. Adams & Reese LLP, (June 5, 2009 Info) 2008 WL 4948835 (E.D.La.) reconsideration denied 2009 WL 1605190 (E.D.La.)

Judgmental Immunity

• Biomet Inc. v. Finnegan Henderson LLP, 967 A.2d 662
• Duane Morris LLP v. Astor Holdings Inc., 877 N.Y.S.2d 250
• Blanks v. Seyfarth Shaw, 171 Cal.App.4th 336, 89 Cal.Rptr.3d 710
• Eadie v. Krause, S.C., 381 S.C. 55, 671 S.E.2d 389

Insurance Law

• TIG Insurance Co. v. Canel, 2009 WL 804145 (Ill.App. 1 Dist.)
• Westport Insurance Corp. v. Jacobs & Barbone, P.A., 2009 WL 922023 (D.N.J.)
• Westport Insurance Corp. v. Cotten Schmidt, LLP., 605 F.Supp.2d 796

Updates to 2009 LMRM and Statutory Causes of Action

• Mosier v. Callister, Nebeker & McCullough, 546 F.3d 1271
• Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C. v. Powerhouse Marks, LLC, 2008 WL 4457782 (E.D.Mich.)
• Tattletale Portable Alarm Systems, Inc. v. Calfee, Halter & Griswold, LLP, 2009 WL 790314 (Ohio App. 10 Dist.)
• Maatuk v. Guttman, 173 Cal.App.4th 1191, 93 Cal.Rptr.3d 381
• Wood v. Jamison, 167 Cal.App.4th 156, 83 Cal.Rptr.3d 877
• Lockwood v. Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton, 173 Cal.App.4th 675, 93 Cal.Rptr.3d 220
• Stern v. Bluestone, 47 A.D.3d 576, 850 N.Y.S.2d 90 appeal dismissed, 10 N.Y.3d 826, 858 N.Y.S.2d 652

Who Is the Client and Standing to Sue – Successor Entities, Affiliates and Subsidiaries

• Goodrich v. Goodrich, 158 N.H. 130, 960 A.2d 1275

Advance Conflict Waivers, Screening and How to Do It

• Centra, Inc. v. Estrin, 538 F.3d 402

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