Practice point: The Appellate Division affirmed dismissal, finding that the defendants established their prima facie entitlement to judgment as a matter of law by demonstrating that they did not fail to exercise the ordinary reasonable skill and knowledge commonly possessed by a member of the legal profession. The defendants' evidentiary submissions demonstrated that the notice of claim and the pleadings prepared by them in the underlying personal injury action adequately set forth the theory of negligence allegedly omitted, and that the settlement of the underlying action was not effectively compelled by any mistakes on their part. In opposition, the plaintiffs' submissions, including an expert's conclusory affirmation, failed to raise a triable issue of fact. The plaintiffs' reliance upon the same evidence in support of their cross motion for summary judgment on the issue of liability was similarly insufficient to establish a prima facie case of legal malpractice.
Student note: In an action to recover damages for legal malpractice, a plaintiff must demonstrate that the attorney failed to exercise the ordinary reasonable skill and knowledge commonly possessed by a member of the legal profession' and that the attorney's breach of this duty proximately caused plaintiff to sustain actual and ascertainable damages. The claim may remain viable, despite settlement of the underlying action, if the settlement was effectively compelled by counsel's mistakes.
To succeed on a motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint in a legal malpractice action, the defendant must present evidence in admissible form establishing that the plaintiff is unable to prove at least one essential element of the cause of action.
Case: Feldman v. Finkelstein & Partners, LLP, NY Slip Op 06491 (2d Dept. 2015)
Here is the decision.
Tomorrow's issue: A motion for summary judgment in lieu of complaint.
