Timothy D. McGonigle Obtains Favorable Outcome on Behalf of Elderly Client in Fee Claim of $1.5 million

Principal trial attorney Timothy D. McGonigle defended an elderly client in a lawsuit filed by the client’s former law firm to recover attorney’s fees and costs totaling approximately $1.5 million. The former law firm had represented the elderly client and his business partner in litigation pertaining to several commercial real estate projects. The business partner ran the real estate projects and primarily dealt with the former law firm.

After an arbitration spanning two weeks and heard before three retired judges, Mr. McGonigle persuaded the arbitrators that the former attorney and law firm had an active conflict of interest as the former law firm inappropriately had the elderly client sign an engagement letter one-and-a-half years after the representation began which made the elderly client jointly liable with his business partner for the law firm’s fees, including for litigation solely involving the business partner, without adequately disclosing that the business partner had significant debts and would likely be unable to pay the fees. The arbitrators thus denied the request for approximately $1.5 million in attorney’s fees and costs.

A copy of the 69-page arbitration decision can be obtained by contacting the firm at 310-478-7110..