Tortious Interference, Conspiracy Claims By Virginia Lawyer Dismissed

In a dispute between two Virginia lawyers, a U.S. District Judge has rejected attorney Cynthia Smith's claim that another attorney, Timothy Purcell, interfered with her contract with a client and caused her to suffer nearly $4 million in financial losses.

Smith had been representing a Northern Virginia family, the Wieses, in a dispute with their neighbors. Eventually, the Wieses became dissatisfied with her representation and hired Purcell in her place. Smith sought her full $30,000 fee from the Wieses but ended up settling the fee dispute with them for $5,000. She and the Wieses signed a settlement agreement in 2009 that provided for a full release of all claims. Two years later, Smith sued Purcell over his role in representing the Wiese family, alleging that Purcell tortiously interfered with her right to receive the full payment from the client. She said that Purcell at one point promised her that he would ensure that she would be "paid in full" by the Wieses and that he reneged on this promise. She also claimed that she signed the settlement agreement under duress in that her "decision to trust God" led to a series of financial losses.

Read the rest of the article at the Virginia Business Litigation Lawyer blog

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