In Berger v Lewis Johs Avallone Aviles, LLP, 232 AD3d 840, 841-42 [2d Dept 2024], the court affirmed the denial of the law firm’s motion to dismiss the client’s malpractice lawsuit, holding:
“To succeed on a motion to dismiss based upon documentary evidence pursuant to CPLR 3211(a)(1), the documentary evidence must utterly refute the plaintiff’s factual allegations, conclusively establishing a defense as a matter of law” (Georgica Bldrs., Ltd. v. 136 Bishops Lane, LLC, 175 A.D.3d 610, 611, 106 N.Y.S.3d 345 [internal quotation marks omitted]; see Leon v. Martinez, 84 N.Y.2d 83, 87–88, 614 N.Y.S.2d 972, 638 N.E.2d 511). Further, “[o]n a motion pursuant to CPLR 3211(a)(7) to dismiss for failure to state a cause of action, the court must accept the facts alleged in the complaint as true, accord the plaintiff the benefit of every possible favorable inference, and determine only whether the facts as alleged fit within any cognizable legal theory” (Georgica Bldrs., Ltd. v. 136 Bishops Lane, LLC, 175 A.D.3d at 611, 106 N.Y.S.3d 345; see Leon v. Martinez, 84 N.Y.2d at 87, 614 N.Y.S.2d 972, 638 N.E.2d 511).
Here, accepting the allegations in the complaint as true and according the plaintiff the benefit of every possible favorable inference (see Leon v. Martinez, 84 N.Y.2d at 87, 614 N.Y.S.2d 972, 638 N.E.2d 511), the complaint sufficiently stated a cause of action to recover damages for legal malpractice. Contrary to Wohlgemuth’s contention, “ ‘a legal malpractice plaintiff need not, in order to assert a viable cause of action, specifically plead that the alleged malpractice fell within the agreed scope of the defendant’s representation’ ” (Shan Yun Lin v. Lau, 210 A.D.3d 817, 818, 178 N.Y.S.3d 538, quoting Shaya B. Pac., LLC v. Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker, LLP, 38 A.D.3d 34, 39, 827 N.Y.S.2d 231). Further, “ ‘a legal malpractice defendant seeking dismissal pursuant to CPLR 3211(a)(1) must tender documentary evidence conclusively establishing that the scope of its representation did not include matters relating to the alleged malpractice’ ” (id., quoting Shaya B. Pac., LLC v. Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker, LLP, 38 A.D.3d at 39, 827 N.Y.S.2d 231). Here, Wohlgemuth failed to submit documentary evidence sufficient to make that showing or to otherwise submit documentary evidence utterly refuting the plaintiff’s allegations or conclusively establishing a defense as a matter of law (see Zi Kuo Zhang v. Lau, 210 A.D.3d 829, 831, 178 N.Y.S.3d 545; Shan Yun Lin v. Lau, 210 A.D.3d at 818, 178 N.Y.S.3d 538).
Richard A. Klass, Esq.
Your Court Street Lawyer
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Richard A. Klass, Esq., maintains a law firm engaged in civil litigation at 16 Court Street, 28th Floor, Brooklyn, New York. He may be reached at (718) COURT●ST or RichKlass@courtstreetlaw.comcreate new email with any questions.
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