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Civil Procedure Keyed to Marcus
Capitol Hill Group, Inc. v. Pillsbury, Winthrop, Shaw, Pittman, LLC
Citation:
569 F.3d 485 (2009)Facts
PWSP represented CHG in bankruptcy proceedings. An issue in the bankruptcy case involved a zoning dispute and CHG’s primary asset, commercial property. PWSP represented CHG in the zoning process. Subsequently, and after PWSP’s motion to terminate its representation of CHG was granted, a dispute arose over CHG’s payment of PWSP’s attorneys’ fees. The bankruptcy court awarded the disputed fees, granting summary judgment in PWSP’s favor. The district court affirmed. CHG commenced a new action against PWSP for legal malpractice in District of Columbia court, alleging malpractice by PWSP in connection with an alleged failure to notify CHG of a Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) order and failure to raise a particular argument before the BZA. PWSP removed the matter to federal court. The federal district court granted summary judgment for PWSP on the legal malpractice claims, which it held were barred by res judicata.
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