On October 28, 2014, the Court of Appeals rendered its long awaited decision in In re Lawrence, reversing the decision by the Appellate Division in which it was held that (1) a revised retainer agreement, under which the law firm received 40% of the net recovery (i.e. $44 million) was procedurally and substantively unconscionable and that fees should be determined under the original retainer; and (2) the claim to recover gifts made by the client to her attorneys was timely. Hillary Frommer discusses the decision in our latest entry.
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Fiduciary Relationship Leads to Allegations of Constructive Fraud
In Estate of Aoki, the New York County Surrogate’s Court recently denied a motion for summary judgment to enforce a waiver of a testamentary power of appointment that had been signed by the decedent. Eric Penzer discusses the decision in this week’s blog entry.
Continue Reading Fiduciary Relationship Leads to Allegations of Constructive Fraud
Widow Barred from Bringing Legal Malpractice Action against Husband’s Estate Planning Attorneys
This week’s entry, written by Jaclene D’Agostino, discusses a recent New York County Supreme Court decision dismissing a widow’s legal malpractice claim against her husband’s estate planning attorneys. The rationale: lack of privity, despite the fact that the defendant attorneys also represented the widow in her own estate plans, and jointly with her husband in other matters.
Continue Reading Widow Barred from Bringing Legal Malpractice Action against Husband’s Estate Planning Attorneys