Louisiana sues firm to recoup

Article Abstract:

Louisiana's Insurance Commissioner has filed an innovative law suit against the law firm Deutsch, Kerrigan & Stiles alleging damages as a result of malpractice by partners of the firm on behalf of Sovereign Fire and Casualty Insurance Co. The suit alleges that one of the partners was negligent in not advising the company that 'rented assets' cannot be listed as actual assets. Listing these 'rented assets' as actual allowed the company to remain in business when in reality it was insolvent. The state will eventually have to pay for such insolvencies.

Deutsch, Kerrigan and Stiles, Chaffe, McCall, Phillips, Tolar and Sarpy, L.L.P.

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Tale of a will that drew blood at a white-shoe firm

Article Abstract:

New York's biggest will contest was the 1983 dispute between thei children of J. Seward Johnson and their stepmother, Barbara Piasecka Johnson, over the $400 million estate. Barbara had started life at the Johnson estate as a maid and the children alleged that she exercised undue influence on a senile Johnson to get him to leave her almost his whole estate. A brief adaptation of parts of the book 'Undue Influence' is given detailing Mrs Johnson's disagreements with her Sullivan and Cromwell lawyers and their flawed representation of her.

Wills, Sullivan and Cromwell, Johnson, Barbara

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Misleading message may spark a suit; more often now, an attorney's failure to communicate effectively with a client will lead to malpractice, disciplinary actions

Article Abstract:

Clients have charged their attorneys with failure-to-communicate in over 850 actions since 1995. These have included fee disputes, matters of attorney competence, and non-cooperation with disciplinary boards. Courts have even added to the sanctions recommended by disciplinary boards, and mitigating circumstances such as illness do not persuade courts to lighten the penalty. Law firms should also note an increase in requirements to have legal codes on public display.

Attorneys, Offices of Lawyers, United States, Management, Practice of law, Attorney and client

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