Florida Legal Malpractice Law

About the Authors

• About the Authors

Chapter 1 Basics

• 1-1 Introduction
• 1-2 Complaint
• 1-3 First Predicate: Attorney's Employment
• 1-4 Second Predicate: Attorney's Neglect of a Reasonable Duty
• 1-5 Third Predicate: Attorney's Negligence as Proximate Cause of Loss
• 1-6 Multiple Attorney Representations
• 1-7 Vicarious Liability of Insurer for Acts of Defense Counsel
• 1-8 Criminal Cases
• 1-9 Bankruptcy Cases
• 1-10 Patent Cases
• 1-11 Sample Pleadings
• 1-12 Sample Discovery Demands
• 1-13 Sample Settlement Agreement
• 1-14 Other Causes of Action Against Attorneys

Chapter 10 Assignments

• 10-1 Introduction
• 10-2 Express Assignments
• 10-3 Implied Assignments
• 10-4 Assignment of Proceeds

Chapter 11 Arbitration

• 11-1 Introduction
• 11-2 Public Policy Considerations
• 11-3 Construing Agreements

Chapter 12 Insurance

• 12-1 Introduction
• 12-2 Purchasing a Policy
• 12-3 Common Policy Provisions
• 12-4 Other Protection Methods

Chapter 13 Prevention

• 13-1 Introduction
• 13-2 Likelihood of Being Sued
• 13-3 Screening Prospective Clients
• 13-4 Managing Attorney-Client Relationships
• 13-5 Starting, Declining, and Ending Client Engagements

Chapter 2 Jurisdiction

• 2-1 Introduction
• 2-2 Florida's Long-Arm Statute
• 2-3 Due Process Considerations
• 2-4 Proving Non-Florida Lawyer's Amenability to Suit

Chapter 3 Venue

• 3-1 Introduction
• 3-2 Connection Between Injury and Forum
• 3-3 Means for Determining Proper Forum
• 3-4 Remedy for Improper Venue
• 3-5 Sample Motion to Transfer for Improper Venue

Chapter 4 Defenses

• 4-1 Introduction
• 4-2 Estoppel
• 4-3 Comparative Negligence
• 4-4 In Pari Delicto and Fraud
• 4-5 Statute of Limitations
• 4-6 Abandonment
• 4-7 Judgmental Immunity
• 4-8 Collectibility
• 4-9 Release
• 4-10 Consent
• 4-11 "Rogue" Attorney

Chapter 5 Immunities

• 5-1 Introduction
• 5-2 Positional Exemptions
• 5-3 Defamatory Statements by Counsel

Chapter 6 Attorney-Client Privilege

• 6-1 Introduction
• 6-2 Applicability
• 6-3 Exceptions
• 6-4 "At Issue" and "Selective Disclosure" Doctrines

Chapter 7 Expert Testimony

• 7-1 Introduction
• 7-2 Pre-Trial Proceedings
• 7-3 Trial Proceedings
• 7-4 Working with Experts

Chapter 8 Jury Instructions

• 8-1 Introduction
• 8-2 "Trial Within a Trial"
• 8-3 Drafting Jury Instructions

Chapter 9 Damages

• 9-1 Introduction
• 9-2 Compensatory Damages
• 9-3 Attorneys' Fees
• 9-4 Pre-Judgment Interest
• 9-5 Punitive Damages
• 9-6 Non-Economic Damages

Preface

• Preface