Gerardo Pascual v. Law Offices of Hall, Rice & Associates, Moses Hall
Published: Dec. 9, 2003 | Result Date: Jun. 27, 2003 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: BC271958 Bench Decision – $184,390
Judge
Court
L.A. Superior Central
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Defendant
Experts
Plaintiff
William D. Rehwald
(technical)
Defendant
Russell E. Nordstrom
(technical)
Facts
Gerardo Pascual, a 58-year-old physician, was involved in a business dispute with Sanjay Patel regarding a medical clinic owned by Patel. Pascual retained attorney Moses Hall and the Law Offices of Hall, Rice & Associates, to assist him in his legal battle with Patel. Pascual alleged that the law firm gave him bad advice resulting in a judgment against him for $126,000. The plaintiff sued his former attorney for the amount of the judgment rendered against him in the underlying case - which by the time of trial of the malpractice case amounted approximately to $147,000 ($126,000 plus accrued interest) but also, for loss of income from the date of the closing of the clinic to the present.
Settlement Discussions
The plaintiff made a C.C.P. Section 998 demand of $110,000 approximately three weeks after the Answer was filed in June 2002, and 10 months before trial. At the commencement of trial, the plaintiff demanded $519,513. The defendants offered $100,000.
Specials in Evidence
$360,000
Damages
Damages in the amount of $146,711 for the underlying judgment. Damages for loss of income, fees and costs paid to Moses Hall, and prejudgment interest in the amount of $37,679.
Result
$184,390
Other Information
The award made to the plaintiff by Judge Kalin was subject to a lien in the amount of the underlying judgment plus accrued interest (approximately $147,000) in favor of Sanjay Patel.
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