HON. JAMES A. STEELE (RET.)

Dispute involving claim of legal malpractice against solo practitioner without relevant expertise who brought federal antitrust action on behalf of corporation against much larger competitors and its principals resulting in dismissal of underlying antitrust action and very significant attorneys’ fee award in favor of defendants against plaintiff corporation.

Dispute involving claim of legal malpractice and fraud brought by landlord who filed UD action allegedly doing so solely upon advice of attorney and upon terms allegedly negotiated solely by attorneys on landlord’s behalf.  Landlord was subsequently sued for housing discrimination and other claims by settling tenants resulting in substantial judgment against landlord. 

Dispute involving collection claim by law firm and related claims by former client of legal malpractice against law firm.  Former client also alleged attorneys grossly over-billed client. 

Dispute involving claim of legal malpractice arising out of conservatorship of plaintiff’s mother and alleged additional causes of action for undue Influence and fraud against the attorneys.

Dispute involving claim of malicious prosecuting arising out of attorney defendants’ filing an allegedly frivolous action wherein it had been alleged that plaintiff had fraudulently back-dated documents. 

Dispute involving claim by attorney for unpaid services in representing party in financial elder abuse case and cross-complaint by client for legal malpractice as a result of significant monetary judgment against client at trial. 

Dispute involving claim by attorney for unpaid services and allegations by client of malpractice and claim that attorney unnecessarily and without client approval engaged expert on client’s behalf at great expense. 

Dispute involving claim of, among causes of action, legal malpractice against opposing party’s counsel based upon alleged misrepresentations.

Numerous disputes involving alleged malpractice by attorneys in probate, trust and conservatorship matters.

Dispute alleging legal malpractice arising out of representation in Federal Bankruptcy Court action involving removed adversary proceeding initiated by State Court Receiver pertaining to business litigation.  Plaintiff’s claims included misadvising client as to initial advisability of filing bankruptcy petition as well as mishandling of proceedings resulting in property wrongfully becoming part of the Estate which ultimately became the subject of an order of sale.  Defenses included claims of multiple errors by Bankruptcy Court.  

Legal Malpractice 

HON JAMES A. STEELE

LOS ANGELES SUPERIOR COURT, JUDGE (RET.)