One possible reason that an attorney could negligently let down his or her clients is by having a second career that takes time and focus away from his or her legal practice. Taking part in a reality TV dating show could certainly qualify as a distraction, as a legal malpractice lawsuit in another state claims.
The defendants in the suit are an attorney called Craig Robinson and his former firm, Haggerty, Goldberg, Schleifer & Kupersmith. Robinson may be familiar to some readers as a former contestant on “The Bachelorette,” the 2010 season starring Ali Fedotowsky. As a competitor for Fedotowsky’s heart, Robinson traveled to Turkey and Iceland and participated in various competitions. However, he did not win the game.
Meanwhile, he was representing clients in a personal injury case. While away filming the show, Robinson failed to prepare for trial, according to the former clients. He asked the judge for a continuance, but the judge denied the delay and dismissed the claim.
The plaintiffs say their case was dismissed because Robinson “neglected and abandoned” them for the chance to be a television star. Robinson and the law firm deny that their conduct was negligent in the personal injury case.
A new season of “The Bachelorette” is currently filming. It stars another attorney, who works in a district attorney’s office.
Having an attorney who did not spend the necessary time to prepare for your trial puts you at a severe disadvantage. If that happens and you lose, you may have to pursue a legal malpractice claim against the attorney to be made whole.
Source: Daily Report, “This Could be Why More Lawyers Don’t Appear on ‘The Bachelorette’,” Katheryn Hayes Tucker, April 11, 2014