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34 Misc. 2d 479

Leavy v. Kramer

New York Supreme Court

Decided February 9, 1962

New York Supreme Court · decided 1962-02-09

Cited by 3 later decisions — most recently August 1994

3 state decisions

Key passage — most relied on by later courts

“It is incumbent upon the plaintiff to prove that the original claim would or could have been collected but for the attorney's negligence.”

quoted by 1 later decision, including 641 So. 2d 1371 - Fernandes v. Barrs

Relies on Vooth v. . McEachen · McAleenan v. Massachusetts Bonding & Insurance

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1962-02-09

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

J ohm F. Scileppi, J.

¶1In an action to recover damages for the alleged- malpractice by a certain attorney in the prosecution of a lawsuit, the plaintiff moves to vacate the defendants’ demand for a bill of particulars. The plaintiff contends that the entire demand is improper since it requests particulars *480concerning ilie alleged canse of action which, the defendants’ attorney was negligent in prosecuting.

¶2In McAleenan v. Massachusetts Bonding & Ins. Co. (232 N. Y. 199) the court stated, at pages 204-205, that: “ one who seeks to hold another responsible for neglect in the conduct of litigation must show that the action which has been neglected would probably have been successful and, therefore, that its neglect has directly resulted in damages measured by the value or amount of the rights which were lost by the default.” It is apparent, therefore, that a plaintiff in an action against an attorney for negligently conducting litigation must show that the original cause of action was good and the actual damages suffered. (Lamprecht v. Bien, 125 App. Div. 811; see, also, Hamilton v. Dannenberg, 239 App. Div. 155.) It is incumbent upon the plaintiff to prove that the original claim would or could have been collected but for the attorney’s negligence. (Schmitt v. McMillan, 175 App. Div. 799; see, also, Vooth v. McEachen, 181 N. Y. 28.)

¶3In the case at bar it is apparent that the defendants ’ demand for a bill of particulars, which among other things concerns itself with the plaintiff’s original cause of action, is proper. (See, generally, Dulberg v. Mock, 1 N Y 2d 54, 57.) The plaintiff’s objections concerning items 13, 14 and 15 are without merit since they merely demand particulars concerning the alleged negligence of the defendants. Accordingly the motion is in all respects denied.

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