Legal remedies are potentially available to clients harmed by an attorney's negligence. Whatever the topic, the client has the right to expect the lawyer to maintain professional standards and vigorously defend the client. When a lawyer fails to do so and the client is harmed, the client can file a lawsuit for legal negligence for damages in the New York State court. First, to support a legal malpractice claim, there must have been an attorney-client relationship.
It is not enough to prove that the lawyer was negligent. The plaintiff must also prove that the lawyer's negligent representation caused immediate harm (financial or legal damage) to the client, which generally means that otherwise (if not for negligence) he would have succeeded in the original underlying matter in which the former lawyer represented the client (the so-called lawsuit within the claim) or would not have been liable for the damages in that matter, depending on the outcome. The plaintiff can only collect damages in a legal malpractice lawsuit if he can prove actual damages of value. If the damages claimed are too hypothetical or speculative, meaning that the connection between malpractice and harm is not clear enough, the damages would not be available.
It's understandable that a client who believes a former lawyer was incompetent or negligent might feel scared to hire another, so it's important to look for one with significant experience in lawyer malpractice. New York law, legal malpractice law is complicated, so an attorney who is familiar with the issues is essential. The experienced lawyer will also have relationships with legal experts to analyze the underlying claim and testify, if necessary, on the likelihood of success, if not for the actions of the original lawyer. One of the challenges is the statute of limitations, which in case of legal negligence is three years from the act of malpractice.
However, calculating that deadline can be complicated and exceptions may apply. Attorneys at Schwartz & Ponterio, PLLC, Represent Legal Malpractice Clients Across the New York City Area. In general, legal negligence occurs when a lawyer, acting in his professional capacity as a lawyer, is negligent. In this context, negligence is the lack of a lawyer to exercise “reasonable care,” which means using a degree of skill that an ordinary member of the legal profession would use.
To prevail in a lawsuit for legal malpractice, the plaintiff must also prove that he would likely have won the underlying case had it not been for the negligence of his lawyer in handling his matter. The term “legal malpractice” is used loosely, not only by the public, but also by lawyers. Generically, it conveys something wrong, headless, or contrary to the way things are normally done. Sometimes it can mean that an otherwise reliable job ended up in a bad outcome.
Only lawyers can be sued for legal malpractice; however, lawyers can be sued as a result of the errors of non-lawyers employed, hired, or associated with the lawyer working under the lawyer's supervision. All lawsuits alleging legal malpractice seek monetary damages, and almost all lawsuits for damages for legal negligence also contain a separate lawsuit seeking damages for breach of fiduciary duty. For example, legal strategy matters will not subject a lawyer to liability for legal malpractice, as long as the lawyer's decision is reasonable. If the client sets specific instructions for the lawyer and the lawyer goes against him, the client can claim malpractice.
However, this type of malpractice applies to any lawyer who can negatively affect their client's case with a mathematical error. When lawyers comment on the work of other lawyers, they often turn to a lawyer malpractice scale. Legal negligence occurs only when a lawyer makes a mistake that causes measurable harm to a person, who is usually, but not always, the lawyer's client. Examining the underlying matter for which the lawyer was hired is essential to evaluating a legal malpractice case.
New York City's highly rated personal injury attorneys at Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf effectively represent clients suffering serious injuries from medical negligence and accidents, as well as large groups of clients injured in mass tort disasters, such as plane crashes, explosions and fires. Attorneys can minimize potential negligence liability for non-clients by setting clear boundaries and respecting them on a day-to-day basis. If the lawyer is abusive, dishonest, or manipulative with the client, particularly in a way that creates a negative legal outcome, he is committing negligence. If an attorney seeks a public record relevant to your case, but fails to disclose the correct findings, it could result in negligence.
If the lawyer fails to inform the client of any findings or events affecting their case, it is a form of negligence. . .
