Consumer Law
Sued By Former Client, Denver Law Firm Eventually Wins $300,000
Posted Nov 14, 2008, 05:42 pm CST
By Martha Neil
After a five-year litigation saga, a Denver law firm has not only prevailed in its defense of a case initially brought by a former client as a legal malpractice action but won $300,000 in a counterclaim alleging fraud.
Ex-client Richard Crowe had contended that Franklin D. Azar & Associates and attorney Richard Tull pressured him to settle his underlying case for less than it was worth, reports KRDO 13, an ABC News affiliate. Then, after Crowe's legal malpractice action was dismissed, it was reinstated as a state consumer protection act claim, based on a Colorado Supreme Court ruling.
However, an El Paso County District Court jury sided with the law firm.
"The original decision to dismiss this case was the right one," Azar told the station today. "The proof is in the verdict—this jury awarded us more than we asked for."