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Court Should Have Instructed Jury on Plaintiff’s Comparative Fault in this Legal Malpractice Action

The Third Department determined Supreme Court should have charged the jury on comparative fault in a legal malpractice action.  The client’s first priority security interest in equipment and vehicles had not been protected. The client alleged the attorney’s failure to file a UCC-1 and DMV liens constituted malpractice. With respect to the requested comparative-fault jury instruction, the Third Department explained:

 We agree with defendants’ contention that Supreme Court erred in refusing to charge the jury regarding plaintiff’s comparative fault.  The culpable conduct of a plaintiff client may be asserted as an affirmative defense in a legal malpractice action in mitigation of damages (see CPLR 1411, 1412…).  Here, the evidence was sufficient to support a finding that plaintiff could reasonably have been expected to understand the underlying obligations and formalities… .  Hattem v Smith, 516183, 3rd Dept 11-21-13

 

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