Opinion
15cv9946 (DLC)
03-04-2020
MARGARET RHEE-KARN, Plaintiff, v. SUSAN CHANA LASK, ESQ. A/K/A SUSAN LUSK, A/K/A SUSAN LESK, Defendant.
APPEARANCES: For plaintiff: Kenneth W. Craig 39 Caroline Ln. Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 (828) 275-5532 Douglas Richard Dollinger The Law Offices of Douglas R. Dollinger, P.C. & Associates 570 County Route 49 Middletown, NY 10940 (845) 915-6800 For defendant: Howard B. Mankoff Marshall, Dennehy, Warner, Coleman and Goggin 425 Eagle Rock Avenue Roseland, NJ 07068 (973) 618-4118 Susan Chana Lask Law Offices of Susan Chana Lask 244 Fifth Ave., Ste. 2369 New York, NY 10001 (917) 300-1958
OPINION AND ORDER
APPEARANCES: For plaintiff:
Kenneth W. Craig
39 Caroline Ln.
Pisgah Forest, NC 28768
(828) 275-5532 Douglas Richard Dollinger
The Law Offices of Douglas R. Dollinger, P.C. & Associates
570 County Route 49
Middletown, NY 10940
(845) 915-6800 For defendant:
Howard B. Mankoff
Marshall, Dennehy, Warner, Coleman and Goggin
425 Eagle Rock Avenue
Roseland, NJ 07068
(973) 618-4118 Susan Chana Lask
Law Offices of Susan Chana Lask
244 Fifth Ave., Ste. 2369
New York, NY 10001
(917) 300-1958 DENISE COTE, District Judge:
On December 21, 2015, Margaret Rhee-Karn commenced this legal malpractice action against Susan Lask, her attorney for over two years in a child custody dispute before the Family Court of the State of New York, County of New York ("Family Court"). On October 18, 2019, the parties filed cross-motions for summary judgment. Rhee-Karn's motion for summary judgment is granted in part, as is Lask's motion for summary judgment.
Background
The following facts are undisputed or taken in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, unless otherwise noted. In May 2012, Rhee-Karn visited Lask's professional webpage while conducting online research related to her pending child custody dispute before the Family Court. In a telephone consultation, Rhee-Karn explained to Lask that her child custody dispute had been pending before the Family Court for over two years without a trial. During this time, the Family Court had issued an interim order against Rhee-Karn that limited her visitation rights with her child. An appeal of this interim order had been denied by the Appellate Division. Rhee-Karn told Lask that she wanted to obtain a final disposition in the Family Court proceeding as soon as possible. She also informed Lask that she was concerned that her child's state-appointed attorney and the court referee were biased against her.
Lask argues that Rhee-Karn's summary judgment motion should be denied because her Rule 56.1 Statement improperly makes legal arguments and relies on allegations in the Third Amended Complaint. The Court has relied only on admissible evidence in the record, including affidavits, emails, and court documents. The legal arguments made in the Rule 56.1 Statements of the parties have been ignored.
On May 12, 2012, the parties executed a written retainer agreement (the "Retainer Agreement") for Lask's services and representation of Rhee-Karn in the Family Court proceeding. The Retainer Agreement provided an estimate that the representation would cost approximately $70,000 to $100,000. It also established a minimum flat fee of $25,000 plus a mandatory $200.00 fee for disbursements during the period of May 2012 to July 31, 2012. According to the Retainer Agreement, Lask's hourly rate was $650.00 an hour, billable at 15 minute increments.
I. Federal Court Actions
On September 1, 2012, Lask emailed Rhee-Karn suggesting that she file a motion to stay the Family Court proceedings "on a constitutional issue that the entire proceedings are tainted" because Rhee-Karn's child had not received notice of her right to obtain independent counsel. On November 13, Lask sent Rhee-Karn another email explaining that Family Court is "by statute a court of limited jurisdiction -- meaning, it excludes its ability to determine constitutional issues." Lask remarked that Family Court would purport to have "no authority" over constitutional issues raised before it. On December 9, Lask emailed Rhee-Karn again, this time informing her that she had found a "US Supreme Court case that permits the federal court to issue an injunction in state court proceedings if there is irreparable harm."
On December 21, Lask filed an action in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against the referee in the Family Court proceeding, the law guardian, and a court-appointed forensic psychiatrist. See Complaint, Rhee-Karn v. Burnett, No. 12cv9354 (NRB) (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 21, 2012) (the "First Federal Action"). The complaint alleged that the Family Court had a "known custom" of committing constitutional violations against litigants and that the individual state actors named as defendants had abused their powers by, among other things, causing delay in Rhee-Karn's Family Court proceedings. On February 5, 2013, the case was voluntarily dismissed.
Following dismissal of the First Federal Action and while the Family Court action was still pending, Lask and Rhee-Karn continued to email about the possibility of filing a second action in federal court. On May 15, 2013, Lask emailed Rhee-Karn explaining that she had spoken to an attorney who had confirmed that federal cases should be brought following the conclusion of proceedings in family court. Lask wrote, "No federal court is going to get involved." The same day, Rhee-Karn responded stating that she did not think "if [they] didn't file the federal [they]'d be closer to a decision" in Family Court. On May 19, 2013, Lask emailed Rhee-Karn, with a quote: "Where others might give up, extraordinary people keep trying new ideas and combinations until they find what works." The quote was followed by the statement, "Let's go FEDERAL!"
In early June 2013, Lask contacted Thomas Shanahan, an attorney who had pursued an action in the Southern District of New York alleging that an interim order issued in Family Court that transferred custody of his client's children to their father violated his client's constitutional rights. See Complaint, Marks v. Aylsworth, No. 04cv4090 (GBD) (S.D.N.Y. June 1, 2004). Shanahan informed Lask that the federal court had set a "date certain and told [Shanahan] that [the federal court] would reconsider if the Family Court did not issue a final appealable decision by that date."
On August 28, 2013, Lask emailed Rhee-Karn a "final complaint" alleging constitutional violations to be filed in federal court. She wrote, "I advised many times that a federal complaint before the family court case terminates is subject to dismissal as federal courts rule they will not interfere with family court proceedings." She continued that while the "complaint is solid re alleging immunity does not exist because [the defendants] were malicious," "a federal court can still dismiss this." "I am being realistic as to the state of the law which weighs against you. You may be paying a lot of money only for this to be dismissed," she advised. Lask also demanded a $25,000 retainer, as well as a $500 fee for disbursements. Her hourly billing rate was now $700, and she required a 40% contingency recovery. All other terms of the Retainer Agreement governed.
On August 30, 2013, Lask filed a second civil rights action in the Southern District of New York naming the Office of Court Administration, the referee in the Family Court proceeding, the Chief Administrative Judge, the law guardian, and others as defendants. See Complaint, Rhee-Karn v. Burnett, No. 13cv6132 (JPO) (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 30, 2013) (the "Second Federal Action"). On February 28, 2014, Lask filed a second amended complaint, which the defendants moved to dismiss on April 10. On September 12, 2014, the court dismissed the action on the basis of Younger abstention. Rhee-Karn v. Burnett, No. 13cv6132 (JPO), 2014 WL 4494126, at *7 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 12, 2014).
Younger abstention requires that federal courts abstain from exercising jurisdiction over constitutional claims seeking declaratory or injunctive relief where (1) there is an ongoing state proceeding, (2) involving an important state interest, and (3) the plaintiff has an adequate opportunity for judicial review of her constitutional claims in state court during or after the proceeding. Christ the King Regional High Sch. v. Culvert, 815 F.2d 919, 224 (2d Cir. 1987); see also Younger v. Harris, 401 U.S. 37, 49 (1971). The doctrine is based upon notions of comity and federalism and recognizes that state courts are presumptively capable of vindicating constitutional rights. Diamond "D" Cons. Corp. v. McGowan, 282 F.3d 191, 198 (2d Cir. 2002).
State law claims for legal malpractice and disgorgement that were brought against Rhee-Karn's former counsel in Family Court also were dismissed. 2014 WL 4494126, at *7.
II. State Court Proceedings
While pursuing these actions in federal court, Lask also represented Rhee-Karn in the ongoing child custody dispute in Family Court. On August 29, 2013, the Family Court referee issued an Order authorizing Lask to provide that court with a copy of a report from Jonathan Gould, Ph.D., for the purpose of a peer review evaluation of the court-appointed forensic psychiatrist, Dr. Stephanie Brandt. Dr. Brandt had testified in the Family Court proceedings on four occasions in March 2012 and submitted reports to the court. Gould's peer review report was intended to provide an opinion on Dr. Brandt's methods and procedures, not to provide a second opinion on parental fitness.
On September 5, 2013, Gould and Rhee-Karn executed a Statement of Understanding, which provided that Rhee-Karn would accept full financial responsibility for Gould's fees. On September 10, Lask emailed Rhee-Karn to relay a conversation that she had had with Gould. Lask explained that Gould would not "state anything regarding [Dr. Brandt's] negligence," and that Gould had expressed concern that the Family Court judge would not accept Gould's testimony because Gould had only a Ph.D., while Dr. Brandt had a medical degree.
In support of this statement, Rhee-Karn cites an exhibit that was attached to her opposition to Lask's motion to dismiss. Lask objects to this statement as "not properly supported by citations to the record." Because this statement is supported by an exhibit in the record, this Court relies on it.
On November 6, Gould provided Lask with his peer review report reviewing the reports Dr. Brandt had submitted to the Family Court. On November 7, Lask emailed Rhee-Karn critiquing both the quality and expense of Gould's report. She noted that Gould had not "even review[ed] Brandt's testimony" and had already spent $5,000 on a "form document he cut and past [sic]." She advised that she could "bring out Brandt's deficiencies in [] closing argument" rather than have Gould testify. Rhee-Karn agreed. In late November and December, Rhee-Karn emailed Lask on at least two occasions explaining that she preferred to not submit Gould's report to the Family Court or call him to testify before the Family Court. On March 1, 2014, Rhee-Karn emailed Lask again explaining that her former counsel in the Family Court proceeding had cross-examined Dr. Brandt, and conveying her assessment that the cross-examination was "enough to discredit [Dr. Brandt's] report." It appears, therefore, that Gould's report was never submitted to the judge presiding over the Family Court proceedings and he was not called to testify there.
On October 15, 2014, a decision issued from the Family Court granting sole legal and physical custody to the father of Rhee-Karn's child, subject to Rhee-Karn's rights of visitation. The court explained that it had heard testimony from Dr. Brandt, as well as both parents, the child's babysitter, and the maternal grandmother, but had not credited the testimony of the babysitter and grandmother. In addition to citing the reports and testimony of Dr. Brandt as the basis for granting the father sole custody, the Family Court cited Rhee-Karn's own testimony and conduct throughout the proceedings. In particular, the court cited Rhee-Karn's refusal to provide straightforward and reliable testimony, including about the leak of sensitive information concerning her child to the New York Post, her violation of numerous court orders, her loss of employment, and her move to three separate homes during the court proceedings. The Family Court also cited the father's testimony demonstrating that he was financially and physically able to support the child, as well as his residence in the same home throughout the proceedings.
This decision was affirmed by the Appellate Division, First Department on February 16, 2016.
III. Procedural History
Rhee-Karn filed this action on December 21, 2015, bringing claims against Lask for legal malpractice, breach of fiduciary duty, negligent infliction of emotional distress, unjust enrichment, and deceptive acts or practices that arose out of Lask's representation of Rhee-Karn during her child custody dispute. On September 14, 2017, Lask moved to dismiss the Third Amended Complaint for failure to state a claim pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6), Fed. R. Civ. P. An Order of September 30, 2018 granted dismissal of the claims, except those for legal malpractice. In particular, the September 30 Order determined that Rhee-Karn had stated claims for legal malpractice in connection with Lask's decision to file the First and Second Federal Actions, as well as Lask's failure to retain a qualified expert witness to rebut the testimony of Dr. Brandt.
On February 5, 2019, Lask asserted counterclaims against Rhee-Karn, as well as Rhee-Karn's attorneys in this action. The counterclaims primarily allege that Rhee-Karn and her attorneys committed fraud on the court by initiating this action against Lask. Litigation on the counterclaims has been bifurcated from Rhee-Karn's legal malpractice claims, and they are not the subject of these cross-motions for summary judgment.
Following months-long letter writing campaigns by both parties lodging insults and accusations against each other and causing unnecessary, non-merits-based delay, on August 1, 2019, the Honorable Loretta A. Preska filed an Order recusing herself from this case after referring the matter to the United States Marshal. As described in Judge Preska's August 1 Order, Lask had begun stalking Judge Preska and her chambers staff, and Lask had informed Judge Preska that Lask had investigated chambers IP addresses and had monitored certain sites visited. This case, therefore, was reassigned to this Court on August 14.
On October 18, 2019, Lask moved for summary judgment, arguing that Rhee-Karn had failed to submit timely, admissible expert reports in support of her legal malpractice claims, could not establish each element of a legal malpractice claim, and had failed to prosecute her case. The same day, Rhee-Karn cross-moved for summary judgment on her legal malpractice claims. These motions became fully submitted on November 22.
Discussion
Summary judgment may not be granted unless all of the submissions taken together "show[] that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). "Summary judgment is appropriate when the record taken as a whole could not lead a rational trier of fact to find for the non-moving party." Smith v. Cnty. of Suffolk, 776 F.3d 114, 121 (2d Cir. 2015) (citation omitted). The moving party bears the burden of demonstrating the absence of a material factual question, and in making this determination, the court must view all facts in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. See Eastman Kodak Co. v. Image Technical Servs., Inc., 504 U.S. 451, 456 (1992); Gemmink v. Jay Peak Inc., 807 F.3d. 46, 48 (2d Cir. 2015). On cross-motions for summary judgment, the court must construe the evidence in each case in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. Wandering Dago, Inc. v. Destito, 879 F.3d 20, 30 (2d Cir. 2018).
Once the moving party has made a showing that the non-movant's claims cannot be sustained, the party opposing summary judgment "must set forth specific facts demonstrating that there is a genuine issue for trial." Wright v. Goord, 554 F.3d 255, 266 (2d Cir. 2009) (citation omitted). "[C]onclusory statements, conjecture, and inadmissible evidence are insufficient to defeat summary judgment." Ridinger v. Dow Jones & Co., 651 F.3d 309, 317 (2d Cir. 2011) (citation omitted). Only disputes over material facts will properly preclude the entry of summary judgment. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986). "An issue of fact is genuine and material if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party." Cross Commerce Media, Inc. v. Collective, Inc., 841 F.3d 155, 162 (2d Cir. 2016).
"In a diversity action based on attorney malpractice, state substantive law, here that of New York, applies." Nordwind v. Rowland, 584 F.3d 420, 429 (2d Cir. 2009) (citation omitted). "To prevail on a claim for legal malpractice under New York law, a plaintiff must establish: (1) attorney negligence; (2) which is the proximate cause of a loss; and (3) actual damages." Id. (citation omitted). "For a defendant in a legal malpractice case to succeed on a motion for summary judgment, evidence must be presented in admissible form establishing that the plaintiff is unable to prove at least one of the essential elements." Rubens v. Mason, 387 F.3d 183, 189 (2d Cir. 2004) (citation omitted).
To establish negligence, a plaintiff must demonstrate that "an attorney's conduct fell below the ordinary and reasonable skill and knowledge commonly possessed by a member of his profession." Achtman v. Kirby, McInerney & Squire, LLP, 464 F.3d 328, 337 (2d Cir. 2006) (citation omitted). An "error of judgment" or a "selection of one among several reasonable courses of action" does not establish malpractice. Id. (citation omitted). A malpractice action also is "unlikely to succeed where an attorney erred because an issue of law was unsettled or debatable." Kempf v. Magida, 832 N.Y.S.2d 47, 49 (App. Div. 2007). "[A]n attorney may be liable," however, "for a failure to conduct adequate legal research." Id. An attorney also may be liable for "ignorance of the rules of practice, failure to comply with conditions precedent to suit, or for his neglect to prosecute or defend an action." Achtman, 464 F.3d at 337 (citation omitted). Establishing negligence generally requires expert opinion evidence, although "the requirement . . . may be dispensed with where ordinary experience of the fact finder provides sufficient basis for judging the adequacy of the professional service." Estate of Nevelson v. Carro, Spanbock, Kaster & Cuiffo, 686 N.Y.S.2d 404, 405-06 (App. Div. 1999) (citation omitted); see also Boye v. Rubin & Bailin, LLP, 56 N.Y.S.3d 57, 63 (App. Div. 2017). Expert opinion evidence also is unnecessary where the attorney's conduct falls below any standard of due care. Northrop v. Thorsen, 848 N.Y.S.2d 304, 308 (App. Div. 2007).
To establish proximate cause, "a plaintiff must show that he or she would have prevailed in the underlying action or would not have incurred any damages, but for the lawyer's negligence." Rudolf v. Shayne, Dachs, Stanisci, Corker & Sauer, 835 N.Y.S.2d 534, 536 (2007); see also Rubens v. Mason, 527 F.3d 252, 255 (2d Cir. 2008). New York courts have recognized that an attorney who negligently advises her client to file an unmeritorious action may be liable for legal malpractice. Bd. of Managers of Bay Club v. Borah, Goldstein, Schwartz, Altschuler & Nahins, P.C., 948 N.Y.S.2d 347, 348 (App. Div. 2012).
Damages in a legal malpractice action must be "actual and ascertainable." Rudolf, 835 N.Y.S.2d at 536. They are "designed to make the injured client whole." Id. at 537 (citation omitted). Damages may include expenses incurred in defending the validity of an unmeritorious action, Bd. of Managers, 948 N.Y.S.2d at 348, as well as "litigation expenses incurred in an attempt to avoid, minimize, or reduce the damage caused by the attorney's wrongful conduct." Rudolf, 835 N.Y.S.2d at 537 (citation omitted).
The cross-motions for summary judgment each address three separate categories of expenses associated with Lask's representation of Rhee-Karn. Rhee-Karn seeks an award based on the legal fees and expenses billed in connection with each of the two federal actions, as well as the action in Family Court. Lask in turns seeks summary judgment in her favor regarding each of these categories.
I. Federal Court Actions
Rhee-Karn is entitled to summary judgment on her legal malpractice claim in connection with Lask's filing of the First Federal Action. A few months after she was retained to represent Rhee-Karn in Family Court, Lask suggested to Rhee-Karn that she file the First Federal Action. Before filing the action on December 21, 2012, Lask informed Rhee-Karn that the Family Court lacked jurisdiction to hear constitutional claims and that proceeding in federal court was supported by U.S. Supreme Court caselaw. The evidence in the record demonstrates that Lask did not research, much less advise on, any of the pitfalls of bringing an action in federal court prior to the filing of the First Federal Action. Indeed, the evidence in the record demonstrates that Lask first researched these issues in May 2013, several months after the action was voluntarily dismissed on February 5, 2013. Lask's failure to research the law underlying the First Federal Action is not an error of judgment or a strategic decision gone wrong. It is the type of negligent conduct that falls below any standard of care and for which no expert opinion is necessary. Lask's negligence also was the but for cause of all of the legal expenses Rhee-Karn incurred in connection with the First Federal Action. Had Lask researched the relevant law, she would not have advised Rhee-Karn to pursue her constitutional claims in federal court. Rhee-Karn is therefore entitled to damages for the legal fees she incurred in connection with the First Federal Action.
Rhee-Karn has submitted an expert affidavit in support of her motion for summary judgment on her claims alleging that the filing of the two federal court actions constituted legal malpractice. The parties dispute whether (1) Rhee-Karn timely filed the report, (2) the expert is conflicted out of opining in this action because he represented Rhee-Karn in her appeal of the custody decision in Family Court, and (3) the expert's report should be inadmissible under Rule 403, Fed. R. Evid.
Lask is incorrect that these damages are speculative. The legal fees Rhee-Karn incurred from the First Federal Action constitute actual and ascertainable damages. Bd. of Managers, 948 N.Y.S.2d at 348.
Lask, however, has shown that she is entitled to summary judgment dismissing Rhee-Karn's legal malpractice claim for filing the Second Federal Action. Ample evidence in the record establishes that Lask researched the relevant issues and advised Rhee-Karn against filing another federal action as early as May 2013. Lask repeated these warnings in written communications on multiple occasions prior to the filing of the action on August 30, 2013. For example, on May 15, 2013, Lask told Rhee-Karn that any federal action should be brought after the conclusion of Family Court proceedings and advised her that "[n]o federal court is going to get involved." On August 28, she stated, "I am being realistic as to the state of the law which weighs against you." Although Rhee-Karn argues that Lask was unaware of, or failed to explain, the intricacies of the law supporting Lask's advice, in particular the Younger abstention doctrine, Rhee-Karn does not dispute that Lask repeatedly advised her against filing the Second Federal Action. These warnings demonstrate that Lask's conduct did not fall below the ordinary and reasonable skill and knowledge commonly possessed by a member of the legal profession. See Achtman, 464 F.3d at 338. Rhee-Karn has submitted no evidence that raises a material question of fact on this issue.
In her February 5, 2019 answer to the TAC, Lask asserts numerous affirmative defenses arguing that she advised Rhee-Karn against pursuing the federal actions. An affirmative defense is "a defendant's assertion raising new facts and arguments that, if true, will defeat the plaintiff's . . . claim, even if all allegations in the complaint are true." Saks v. Franklin Covey Co., 316 F.3d 337, 350 (2d Cir. 2003) (citation omitted). While an attorney may defeat a legal malpractice claim by arguing that she adequately advised her client, such an argument is not an affirmative defense. See Achtman, 464 F.3d at 338.
II. State Court Action
Lask is also entitled to summary judgment on Rhee-Karn's legal malpractice claim to the extent it is addressed to her representation of Rhee-Karn during the Family Court action. Rhee-Karn claimed that Lask committed legal malpractice when she failed to hire a qualified expert to rebut the testimony of Dr. Brandt, the forensic psychiatrist appointed by the Family Court. But, the undisputed evidence shows that Lask's failure to call a qualified expert to rebut Dr. Brandt's testimony was not the but for cause of the Family Court's decision to award full custody to the father of Rhee-Karn's child. Rhee-Karn does not dispute that the absence of a qualified expert for rebuttal was not the but for cause of the Family Court decision.
And while the Family Court did describe Dr. Brandt's testimony as "uncontroverted," the court referenced many other factors underlying its decision. For instance, the court explained that Rhee-Karn refused to answer questions by opposing counsel even after the court advised her that negative inferences could be drawn from this refusal. The court also determined that Rhee-Karn provided evasive and unreliable testimony when asked about sensitive information that was leaked about the case and her child to the New York Post. On the other hand, the court found that the father's testimony revealed that he is financially and physically able to support his child. The court also noted that the father had resided in the same home throughout the custody dispute, while Rhee-Karn had moved three separate times and had recently informed the court that she was no longer employed. Finally, the court highlighted that Rhee-Karn had violated several orders of the court during the pendency of the case and deemed it certain that Rhee-Kharn would not likely follow court orders if she were awarded sole custody. On this record, there is no dispute that the alleged negligence was not the but-for cause of Rhee-Karn's loss of child custody.
In addition, in opposition to Lask's motion for summary judgment, Rhee-Karn has not submitted a report from a qualified expert, much less one that takes issues with Dr. Brandt's report and testimony. Without such evidence, Rhee-Karn has failed to raise a question of fact regarding causation.
The expert reports Rhee-Karn submitted do not address Lask's representation of Rhee-Karn in the Family Court proceedings.
Rhee-Karn argues that summary judgment may not be granted to Lask because Lask failed to call a qualified expert to rebut Dr. Brandt's testimony. This argument misapprehends the shifting of burdens on summary judgment. Here, the record evidence supports Lask's motion. The burden shifts to Rhee-Karn to present evidence raising a question of fact. She has not done so through presenting either an expert affidavit to demonstrate Lask's professional failings, or the availability of evidence to rebut Dr. Brandt.
Although the financial impact is negligible in this action, the parties also dispute whether summary judgment may be granted regarding the fees Rhee-Karn paid to Gould. Rhee-Karn alleges that Gould was not qualified to rebut Dr. Brandt's testimony. Lask has shown that she is entitled to summary judgment on this theory, as well. First, Rhee-Karn has cited no caselaw supporting her proposal to dispose with the proximate cause requirement in this context. Second, to the extent Rhee-Karn alleges that she is entitled to damages limited to the expenses she incurred in retaining Gould, she is wrong. Even if a client could recover any time an attorney's negligent conduct were the but for cause of the client's expense, Rhee-Karn has not demonstrated that Lask was negligent in causing her to incur these fees. The only fees that Rhee-Karn paid to Gould was for his peer review of Dr. Brandt's report. While Rhee-Karn provides evidence suggesting that Gould was unqualified to provide rebuttal testimony, there is no evidence demonstrating that Gould was unqualified to perform the more limited service of a peer review report. Rhee-Karn therefore has failed to demonstrate that she incurred expenses that were proximately caused by Lask's alleged negligence.
It appears that Gould was paid $5,000, while the fees and expenses in connection with Lask's representation of Rhee-Karn involve hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Indeed, evidence in the record demonstrates that Gould was qualified to issue a peer review report, namely the Family Court's August 29, 2013 Order authorizing Gould to do so.
III. Failure to Prosecute
Lask's motion to dismiss Rhee-Karn's claims for failure to prosecute is denied. In considering whether to dismiss a case for failure to prosecute, courts consider
Lask principally refers to Rhee-Karn's filing of expert reports on September 27, 2019, the last date of discovery. Lask argues that Rhee-Karn should have identified her expert to Lask prior to this date.
whether: (1) the plaintiff's failure to prosecute caused a delay of significant duration; (2) plaintiff was given notice that further delay would result in dismissal; (3) defendant was likely to be prejudiced by further delay; (4) the need to alleviate court calendar congestion was carefully balanced against plaintiff's right to an opportunity for a day in court; and (5) the trial court adequately assessed the efficacy of lesser sanctions.In re World Trade Center Disaster Site Litig., 722 F.3d 483, 486 (2d Cir. 2013) (citation omitted). These factors do not weigh in favor of dismissing this case. In particular, Lask has not shown that Rhee-Karn was ever warned that delays in producing discovery material would cause her case to be dismissed.
Conclusion
Rhee-Karn's October 18 motion for summary judgment is granted in part, as is Lask's October 18 motion for summary judgment. Rhee-Karn is granted summary judgment on her legal malpractice claim addressed to the filing of the First Federal Action. Lask is granted summary judgment on the legal malpractice claims addressed to the filing of the Second Federal Action and her representation of Rhee-Karn in Family Court. A concurrently filed Order will set forth a schedule governing the further conduct of proceedings in this case. Dated: New York, New York
March 4, 2020
/s/_________
DENISE COTE
United States District Judge