Business Associations Keyed to Hamilton
Meehan v. Shaughnessy
Facts
Meehan (P) and Boyle (P) planned to start their own firm outside of Parker Coulter (D). In the meantime, they continued to work normally for Parker Coulter (D). After giving notice, Meehan (P) and Boyle (P) networked with referring attorneys and received consent from a majority of clients to take their cases with them when they leaved. The partnership agreement allowed for cases to be removed in exchange for a “fair charge” and with the consent of the client. Boyle (P) provided the list of those cases taken to Parker Coulter (D) until two weeks after it had been requested. Meehan (P) sued Parker Coulter (D) after it refused to return the capital contributions of Boyle (P) and Meehan (P) nor return their share of the dissolved firm’s profits. The firm filed a counterclaim alleging that Meehan (P) and Boyle (P) broke the partnership agreement and violated their fiduciary duties when they unjustly consent from clients and attorneys to take their cases with them. The trial court dismissed Parker Coulter’s (D) claims. The firm appealed.
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