Legal Malpractice

Whistleblower Legal Malpractice?

By (Andrew Lavoott Bluestone)

We often remark that legal malpractice may be found everywhere, and in many an unusual circumstance.  The "Big Dig?"  Sure.  Here is a story from NY Lawyer about a whistle blower whose case was overlooked:

"A would-be whistle blower is suing Washington-based firm Phillips & Cohen in the U.S. Court for the District of Massachusetts for allegedly failing to pursue his false claims case against a contractor to the state's massive "Big Dig" highway project.

According to the lawsuit for legal malpractice and breach of contract, the plaintiff claimed that he entered into a contract with Phillips & Cohen and attorney Peter W. Chatfield around June 2000. The plaintiff alleged that the firm failed to pursue his case for several years, also that he "did not discover that he had suffered any damages or losses resulting" from Phillips & Cohen's lack of action until September 2006. Johnston v. Chatfield, No. 1:08-cv-11219-WGY (D. Mass.)

The plaintiff is a former employee of asphalt and concrete supply company Aggregate Industries Northeast Region Inc.

In July 2007, the company pleaded guilty and agreed to pay $50 million to settle criminal and civil charges related to a fraudulent scheme involving concrete. Aggregate agreed to provide up to $75 million in insurance coverage for maintenance problems related to the scheme. "

Full post as published by New York Attorney Malpractice Blog on August 28, 2008 (boomark / email).