Mooney & Murphy v. John B. Greenfield, Philip P. Greenfield, and the Greenfield Family Trust
Published: Aug. 9, 1997 | Result Date: Apr. 23, 1997 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: LC020727 Verdict – $49,099
Judge
Court
L.A. Superior Van Nuys
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Barry Z. Brodsky
(Kaufman, Dolowich & Voluck LLP)
Defendant
Experts
Plaintiff
Samuel Keasel
(technical)
Defendant
H. Thomas Fehn
(Fields Fehn & Sherwin)
(technical)
Facts
Plaintiffs/cross-defendants Mooney & Murphy, a law firm, claimed it was entitled to unpaid attorney's fees and interest. The defendant/cross-complainants, John B. Greenfield, Philip C. Greenfield and the Greenfield Family Trust, denied owing Mooney & Murphy further attorney's fees and claimed that the cross-defendants had negligently handled a securities case, causing the cross-complainants to lose more than $500,000. The cross-defendant denied the legal malpractice allegations and claimed that the damages were speculative and that the cross-complainants were barred by unclean hands. The plaintiffs brought this action against the defendants for attorney's fees. The cross-complainants made a claim for legal malpractice.
Settlement Discussions
The plaintiffs/cross-defendants made a settlement demand for $110,000. The defendants/cross-complainants made a settlement demand for $250,000 prior to trial and $100,000 during trial.
Damages
Plaintiffs/cross-defendants expert testified that the fees were reasonable and that the cross-defendants' conduct was within the standard of care.
Other Information
The verdict was reached approximately four years after the case was filed. Per the plaintiffs, a judgment has been entered in favor of the defendants on the fee complaint and in favor of the cross-defendant attorneys on the legal malpractice cross-complaint.
Deliberation
2½ days
Poll
12-0
Length
3 weeks
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