Before your contract trial in Palm Beach, did the business lawyer on the other side try to delay trial by filing a bunch of unnecessary motions? Or, did your partnership lawyer inOrlando purposefully ignore discovery requests from the other side? These attorneys may have been acting in bad faith. If the court finds that the losing side or the losing side’s attorney knew or should have known about the unnecessary claims, the court may order the losing side and his attorney to pay for your attorney’s fees. Read this recent case from Florida’s 4th District Court of Appeal that gives a detailed explanation of what can happen when an attorney acts in bad faith.
In DAN PRONMAN v. BRIAN STYLES and MOVIE STAR MUSCLECARS, INC., a routinecontract dispute in Broward County, turned into a “drag-out fight.”
- The lawyers on one side of the dispute acted in bad faith:
- They repeatedly ignored discovery requests from the attorney from the other side.
- They also filed unnecessary objections and motions. These sorts of tactics were used to delay the trial for 10 months.
- As a consequence, the Fort Lauderdale court ordered the lawyers and its clients to pay $11,942 in attorney’s fees.
- Did the commercial litigation law firm in your breach of contract trial act in bad faith?
- In a typical commercial lawsuit in Palm Beach, you must pay for your own attorney’s fees. However, the judge does not look favorably upon attorneys who act in bad faith.
- You never want to make any judge feel like you are wasting the court’s time.
Whether you are up against a small start-up company in Tampa or a big corporation inMiami, any company lawyer acting in bad faith can be held liable to pay for your attorney’s fees. Don’t let this happen to you!
To read a free online copy of this case opinion and learn more about Florida attorney’s fee and what can happen when an attorney acts in bad faith, click here:
http://www.4dca.org/opinions/March%202015/03-04-15/4D12-2279.op.pdf.