Beck v. Morris, Polich & Purdy CA2/8
Plaintiff Cynthia Beck brought this malpractice action against the attorneys who defended her in a case in which she was found liable for $2 million in compensatory damages and $4 million in punitive damages. The defendant attorneys initially prevailed on a motion to strike from Beck’s complaint any claim to recover the punitive damages which had been awarded against her, on the basis that California public policy prevents shifting an award of punitive damages to a party who was merely negligent. Thereafter, the defendant attorneys sought summary judgment on the basis that none of their alleged breaches of duty caused Beck any damages. The trial court agreed, with respect to several of the purported breaches of duty, and granted summary adjudication accordingly.
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