With high property values making California real estate a costly investment, property disputes can be expensive, as they are across the country. This may be especially true for people who believe they were poorly represented by their legal counsel in a land-use fight. In one case, Corey Lewandowski, the former campaign manager for President Donald Trump, is suing his former attorney after a negative outcome in a property battle with his neighbors. Lewandowski says that his former lawyer did not provide proper representation in the 2017 case over a six-car garage that he wanted to build on his property, which his neighbors objected to.
He sued the neighbors in the dispute, who in turn filed a counter-suit accusing Lewandowski of attempting to intimidate and bully them through his political connections. Lewandowski wound up paying the neighbors $75,000 to settle the issues raised in the counter-suit. He says that his lawyer was unprepared for the case, especially defending against the counter-claim. Lewandowski alleges that when the issue came to trial, his attorney was admonished by the judge for his negligence, saying that he did not have evidence or witnesses to support Lewandowski’s side.
While his former attorney sought to postpone the trial, the neighbors objected, given that their lawyer was prepared to proceed, and the judge rejected the request for a postponement. He says that he settled with the neighbors before the trial officially began in order to forestall potential losses and that the amount he paid out in the settlement as well as in legal fees was lost due to his attorney’s alleged legal malpractice.
When people hire an attorney, they expect to receive a conscientious, vigorous representation of their interests. When this does not occur, people may contact a malpractice attorney to learn more about their rights or pursue a claim for compensation.
