Results: Legal Malpractice

ReadyLink HealthCare v. Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith, LLP

$9 Million

The defendant law firm charged its client almost $5 million in legal fees while handling four very sophisticated trade secrets and business cases. None of the four cases went well for the client, despite paying millions of dollars of attorneys' fees. The client hired Klein & Wilson to handle the malpractice case against their former counsel, one of the largest law firms in the United States. After a two month long jury trial, the jury awarded Klein & Wilson's client every penny it requested on its breach of contract and malpractice claims and awarded the defendant law firm nothing on its cross-claims. The case drew significant attention from the California legal community, and the Los Angeles Daily Journal ran a front-page story about this case.  Lewis Brisbois Ordered to Pay $6 Million for Overbilling, Mishandling Four Cases.

Doe v. John Roe (Case Confidential)

$200,000

One of the largest law firms in the United States sought $747,181.79 from its client in a fee dispute.  Klein & Wilson cast doubt on the law firm's bills by comparing the work product with the amount of time the attorneys billed.  The case settled for $200,000 before the fee arbitration.

Kessler v. Horan

(Plaintiff Verdict)

In this attorney malpractice action, Klein & Wilson represented an investor who purchased real estate in Newport Beach. The attorney who represented Klein & Wilson's client in the transaction botched the transaction so badly, the client's title to the property was unclear, which resulted in several other lawsuits being filed. The attorney denied all liability and the case went to trial. The attorney was represented by one of Orange County's most experienced trial attorneys. Nevertheless, Klein & Wilson prevailed at trial and recovered all the damages it requested.

Wells Fargo Bank v. Cahill

(Settlement Confidential)

Descendants of President Ulysses S. Grant filed a malpractice action against their legal advisor and Klein & Wilson's client, a real estate advisor, claiming professional malpractice. Klein & Wilson was able to achieve a settlement for less than 10 percent (10%) of what it would have cost the client to go to trial.

Sjostrom v. Pepper Hamilton, LLP

(Settlement Confidential)

Klein & Wilson's client sold his business and expected to have a covenant not to compete in the sales agreement, which would have prevented the owners of the assets he acquired from competing against him. The client discovered the covenant not to compete, which the lawyers drafted, did not prohibit the former principals of the company from competing. The client, therefore, sued his former counsel, one of the largest law firms in the country. Klein & Wilson worked cooperatively with opposing counsel to resolve this case satisfactorily for all sides, without a large expenditure of legal fees.