Experienced Legal Malpractice Attorneys
Rhein Law LLC is a one-stop shop for people who have been harmed by the negligence, unresponsiveness, and dishonesty of other lawyers. Unlike most law firms, we routinely file lawsuits against lawyers and prepare expert affidavits in support of legal malpractice claims. Our primary office is located in Minnesota in the Twin Cities metro area. We also represent clients in Georgia through the law firm of Ney Rhein Williams, LLC, a leading legal malpractice firm.
We are ready to take any lawyer to court, from the biggest names in the metro to “good-old-boy” practices in rural areas. We handle cases in Minnesota and Georgia.
HOW TO SUE YOUR LAWYER FOR LEGAL MALPRACTICE
Sometimes lawyers make mistakes. Others can be downright dishonest. If you believe your attorney has harmed your case, you may have a claim for legal malpractice. The elements of a legal malpractice case are (1) that you were the client of a lawyer, (2) that the lawyer was careless or professionally negligent, and (3) that the lawyer’s negligent conduct caused you financial loss or other harm. Before filing a lawsuit against a lawyer, you also have to get an expert (usually another lawyer) to provide an affidavit showing at least one act or omission constituting professional negligence. If you win a legal malpractice case, your recovery could include not only your legal fees, but also the full amount of money that you would have been awarded in the original case had you gone to trial.
HOLD YOUR LAWYER ACCOUNTABLE FOR LEGAL MALPRACTICE
An attorney who commits legal malpractice not only harms the client, but also harms the legal profession. The Rules of Professional Conduct require lawyers to perform their services according to a professional standard of care. Lawsuits against attorneys help to regulate the profession of law in the public interest.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Your lawyer is supposed to be someone you can trust. If you no longer feel you can trust your lawyer, you may already have a claim for legal malpractice. You should consider changing lawyers or getting a second opinion. Warning signs of legal malpractice include:
- Not answering phone calls and emails in a reasonable time
- Refusing to provide basic information about your case
- Apparent alcohol and drug use
- Inability to account for trust funds
- Billing disputes
- Missing deadlines and court appearances
- Trying to withdraw from your case after a mistake
- Asking you to sign a waiver of malpractice liability
- Breaking promises
Rhein Law LLC is devoted to representing clients in legal malpractice cases in Minnesota and Georgia. Common types of legal malpractice that we see include:
- Missed statute of limitations
- Failure to respond to discovery
- Failure to appear for court
- Failure to know the law and the facts of your case
- Settling your case without your permission
- Inadequate preparation for trial
- Providing fraudulent wiring instructions
- Losing or stealing your settlement or escrow funds
- Disloyalty (conflict of interest)
- Drafting errors
- Bad advice
A lawsuit for legal malpractice is different from a bar complaint. Bar complaints may result in discipline of a lawyer. However, the Bar typically does NOT decide disputes between clients and their attorneys, and does not award damages (money) to the “winning” side. In order to recover damages for legal malpractice, you have to file a lawsuit against the lawyer in a court.
An attorney who commits legal malpractice not only harms the client, but also harms the legal profession. The Rules of Professional Conduct require lawyers to perform their services according to a professional standard of care. Lawsuits against attorneys help to regulate the profession of law in the public interest.
Yes. We frequently represent clients in fee disputes with their attorneys. Often, the facts underlying the fee dispute will also involve a claim for legal malpractice.
RECENT WINS
Rhein Obtains $1 Million Judgment in Slip-and-Fall Legal Malpractice Case
Rhein represented a man whose slip-and-fall injury case was dismissed as a result of a former lawyer’s carelessness and dishonesty. The defendant lawyer initially answered the complaint and counterclaimed for allegedly unpaid attorney’s fees. But when Rhein scheduled her deposition, the lawyer willfully failed to appear and abandoned her defense of the case. Rhein brought a motion for sanctions. After multiple hearings, Rhein obtained a judgment against the former lawyer in excess of $1 million, including $100,000 in punitive damages.
Rhein Wins $500,000 Legal Malpractice Settlement
Rhein represented a woman who had been seriously injured in a high speed collision involving a government vehicle. Her former lawyer made a serious mistake before filing a lawsuit against the government, resulting in no recovery for the injured client. Rhein asserted a claim for legal malpractice and recovered a $500,000 policy limits settlement.