Judge Sanctions PI Law Firm for ‘Spiteful’ Lawsuit Against Ex-Client

A Manhattan judge has ordered personal injury law firm Morelli Ratner to pay a $6,000 sanction for bringing a "spiteful" and "wasteful" suit against a former client.

Judge Emily Jane Goodman imposed the sanction three months after she first criticized the firm for its litigation against former client Victoria Kremen, the New York Law Journal reports.

Morelli Ratner had sued to recover the costs of bringing a malpractice action on behalf of Kremen, who lost the initial malpractice case and then lost a malpractice suit against the law firm.

Goodman said a retainer agreement contradicted the firm's position in the case, but Morelli Ratner didn't produce the document until reargument, according to the story.

Name partner David Ratner told the publication that he planned to appeal.