McCrohan v. Sandulli Grace, P.C.

369 F. Supp. 3d 324
CourtDistrict Court, District of Columbia
DecidedMarch 28, 2019
DocketCIVIL ACTION NO. 4:18-cv-10945-TSH
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 369 F. Supp. 3d 324 (McCrohan v. Sandulli Grace, P.C.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, District of Columbia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
McCrohan v. Sandulli Grace, P.C., 369 F. Supp. 3d 324 (D.D.C. 2019).

Opinion

In evaluating the plausibility of plaintiff's pleading, the court must treat all "non-conclusory factual allegations ... as true, even if seemingly incredible." Ocasio-Hernandez v. Fortuno-Burset , 640 F.3d 1, 12 (1st Cir. 2011). While a "paucity of direct evidence is not fatal in the plausibility inquiry", the court may infer a lack of relevant facts if the complaint omits them. Grajales v. Puerto Rico Ports Auth. , 682 F.3d 40, 49 (1st Cir. 2012) ; O'Brien v. DiGrazia , 544 F.2d 543, 546 (1st Cir. 1976). Determining the plausibility of a claim is "a context-specific task that requires the reviewing court to draw on its judicial experience and common sense." Iqbal, 129 S.Ct. at 1950.

Discussion

1. Legal Malpractice (Counts I, II, and III)

Plaintiff claims that Sandulli Grace breached its duty of loyalty and duty to practice law in a reasonably prudent and *330competent manner. Specifically, Plaintiff alleges that Sandulli Grace failed to properly advise Local of conflicts of interest caused by Sandulli Grace's dual representation of Local and MassCOP, did not inform Local of viable third-party claims, and withheld documents critical to prosecuting those third-party claims.

a. Judicial Estoppel

Sandulli Grace argues that Plaintiff's malpractice claims should be judicially estopped because they are inconsistent with her position in the underlying litigation. "Judicial estoppel is an equitable doctrine that precludes a party from asserting a position in one legal proceeding that is contrary to a position it had previously asserted in another proceeding." Blanchette v. School Comm. of Westwood , 427 Mass. 176, 184, 692 N.E.2d 21 (1998) ; see also Alternative Sys. Concepts, Inc. v. Synopsys, Inc. , 374 F.3d 23, 32-33 (1st Cir. 2004). Judicial estoppel is appropriate where a plaintiff would recover a verdict "that is mutually inconsistent with the judgment [they have] already ... obtained." Otis v. Arbella Mut. Ins. Co. , 443 Mass. 634, 648, 824 N.E.2d 23 (2005). Sandulli Grace argues that prevailing in the instant litigation requires Plaintiff to argue that Sandulli Grace "should have presented the case differently or pursued an appeal," which is contrary to Plaintiff's success in the underlying litigation. (Docket No. 19, at 6).

"Because of its equitable nature, the circumstances under which judicial estoppel may appropriately be invoked are probably not reducible to any general formulation of principle." Otis , 443 Mass. at 640, 824 N.E.2d 23 (internal citations and quotation marks omitted). However, estoppel generally contains "two fundamental ... elements: First, the position being asserted ... must be 'directly inconsistent,' meaning 'mutually exclusive' of, the position asserted in a prior proceeding ... Second, the party must have succeeded in convincing the court to accept its prior position." Otis, 443 Mass. at 640-41, 824 N.E.2d 23 (quoting Alternative Sys. Concepts, Inc. v. Synopsys, Inc. , 374 F.3d 23 (1st Cir. 2004) ). The second factor is clearly satisfied. Plaintiff prevailed in the underlying litigation by convincing the court to accept her prior position.

The first factor, however, is not met here. Plaintiff does not argue she should not have prevailed in the underlying litigation, or that Sandulli Grace should have argued the underlying litigation differently. Local's position, assigned to Plaintiff, is that the MassCOP was jointly and severally liable with Local for defaming Plaintiff, and that Sandulli Grace failed to adequately advise Local. (Docket No. 26, at 8). A finding that MassCOP was jointly and severally liable for that defamation is not contrary to the underlying judgment. Cf. Sandman v. McGrath , 78 Mass. App. Ct. 800, 804-05, 943 N.E.2d 945 (2011) (holding plaintiff was estopped because claim was "directly contrary" to previous claim).

b. Third-Party Claims

Under Massachusetts law, joint liability exists where "two or more wrongdoers negligently contribute to the personal injury of another ... so that in effect the damages suffered are rendered inseparable" Feneff v. Bos. & M.R.R., 196 Mass. 575, 581, 82 N.E. 705 (1907). Where joint liability exists, damages may either be shared amongst the joint tortfeasors through contribution, or one tortfeasor may indemnify the other for damages. Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 231B, § 1 et seq. provides for a right of contribution amongst joint tortfeasors. In addition, a right of indemnification can arise from (1) an express agreement, (2) a contractual *331right implied by the nature of the relationship between the parties, or (3) "a tort-based right ... where there is a great disparity in the fault of the parties." Araujo v. Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket S.S. Auth.,

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Bluebook (online)
369 F. Supp. 3d 324, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mccrohan-v-sandulli-grace-pc-dcd-2019.