Personal Injury Newsletters
Attorney Malpractice Liability to Non-Client
In the course of an attorney's representation of a client, he may commit legal malpractice with respect to his prosecution, defense, or appeal of the client's action or his preparation of transactional documents for the client. The attorney's actions may constitute legal malpractice if he fails to use the skill, prudence, and diligence that attorneys of ordinary skill and capacity would use in performing their legal tasks. In addition to being liable to the client, the attorney may also be liable to a non-client in certain circumstances.
Pain and Suffering Damages
An injured plaintiff has the right to recover damages for pain and suffering that he might suffer as a result of a defendant's tortious act against the plaintiff. Pain and suffering damages frequently constitute the largest portion of personal injury awards.
Rules Regarding the Speed of Motor Vehicles
State transportation or vehicle codes regulate the speed of motor vehicles. The codes set forth the maximum speed limits that apply to a particular highway or street. The codes also set forth the general duty of a motor vehicle driver to drive at a safe speed in accordance with the conditions of the highway or street.
Tort Action for Failure to Provide Facilities to the Public
Under the common law, a person commits a tort when he or she fails to provide a public utility or a public facility to a member of the public. In order to be liable for this tort, the person must have a non-contractual duty to provide the public utility or the public facility to the public. A denial of the public utility or the public facility constitutes a breach of that duty.
TORT LIABILITY OF MUNCIPALITIES
When a municipality is acting within its governmental capacity or is performing a governmental function, such as providing water or utility services, it is generally not liable for negligence with regard to the governmental function. However, if the municipality is acting in a proprietary manner, that is, when it owns or maintains real or personal property, the municipality may be liable for the negligence of its representatives, agents, and employees.
