A jury in San Fran just said no to a $17 million legal malpractice claim against Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe after eight years of fighting. Claiming breach of fiduciary duty by retired trusts and estates partner William Hoisington, the dispute didn’t result in a big reward. However, Hosington is still being held responsible for his actions. The jurors felt that he failed his “obligation to his client by breaching a fiduciary obligation, but that it was not a substantial factor in harm to the client.”

According to the plaintiff’s attorney, Jonathan Bass of Coblentz, Patch, Duffy & Bass, “we presented that theory to the jury, that he breached a duty of loyalty, that he could not represent parties that were on the giving and receiving end of wealth.” 

“But the jury did not put it together with our client’s losses,” added Bass.

“It is not often that a law firm takes a malpractice claim to trial,” said Wendy Thurm, one of the Keker & Van Nest attorneys representing Orrick. “Orrick’s case was strong, and we’re happy Bill Hoisington’s character and reputation have been preserved.”

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Some teenagers want to be lawyers, others doctors, firemen, actors, etc….However, mental health experts say that Michael Hernandez always wanted to be a serial killer. In 2004, when he was 14-years-old, the young Florida teen lured a classmate, Jaime Gough, into the bathroom at Miami’s Southwood Middle School, slit his throat and stabbed him at least 42 times.

After 31/2 hours of deliberation, a jury convicted Hernandez, now 18, of first-degree murder. While the defense argued that Hernandez was insane and not criminally responsible for killing his classmate, prosecutors said he was a smart student who wore a windbreaker and latex gloves for the attack in an effort to keep blood off his clothes.

Hernandez’s attorney plans to appeal.

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