A Maryland Court decision this week reminds us all that victims of legal malpractice need to act fast. The Statute of Limitations is often the biggest hurdle any victim of legal malpractice faces. Often, clients don’t know that legal malpractice has even occurred until it’s too late. In the recent Maryland case, a legal malpractice lawsuit was thrown out of court because the victim did not bring the claim within the applicable statute of limitations. The victim argued that he was delayed in discovering the legal malpractice because it was hidden from him by his former lawyer. However, the Maryland court pointed out that the client admitted that, “had regular arguments” with his lawyer, that his lawyer “ignored him” when he asked about the status of his case, and that “a cold chill ran down his spine” in court when he realized his lawyer had to ask the opposing lawyer questions about the Rules of Civil Procedure. For these reasons, the Maryland court held that the client should have brought his legal malpractice claim sooner. If your lawyer’s professional services give you a “Cold Chill Down Your Spine,,” you are wise to consult a legal malpractice lawyer right away.
