Legal Malpractice – Lack of Causation

William Martin picked a jury in a legal malpractice case, following which Plaintiff essentially surrendered based upon the defense opening argument, which focused on lack of causation. The case involved allegations that the defendant lawyer negligently drafted a deed provided as security for an antecedent debt, by ignoring the homestead interest of the debtor’s wife. The case also involved issues relating to the handling of eviction and quiet title actions by the defendant lawyer. The settlement was for less than the anticipated cost of defense at trial.