Addressing Legal Malpractice Allegations In Alaska
When someone hires an attorney, this legal professional has an obligation to act appropriately and in their client’s best interests. They must also provide the high level of services that the client expects, while avoiding negligent mistakes and errors. When a client maintains that their lawyer did make avoidable mistakes or intentionally acted against their best interests, they may start a lawsuit alleging legal malpractice.
That is where Clapp, Peterson, Tiemessen, Thorsness LLC comes in. With offices in Fairbanks and Anchorage, our attorneys can help you explore your defense options if you have been accused of malpractice. We have more than 100 years of combined experience at our firm, and have received the highest possible rating from Martindale-Hubbell. Contact us today for a consultation.
Examples Of Potential Legal Malpractice
Legal malpractice can take many forms, often leading to significant consequences for clients and attorneys alike. Below are several examples of situations that may give rise to litigation in a legal malpractice claim:
- A conflict of interest
- Violation of a contract
- Violating attorney-client confidentiality
- Missing important deadlines
- Failing to file paperwork correctly
For example, many lawsuits have a statute of limitations, such as those for personal injury cases. If a lawyer gives their client the incorrect statute of limitations, and they then miss the deadline, the client may lose all ability to start a case. In most situations, they may blame the attorney for the error and launch a malpractice claim.
What Are Your Defense Options?
Working with an attorney experienced in handling legal malpractice claims in Alaska is important when facing a lawsuit to help ensure you have explored all your defense options. It will depend on the specifics of your case, but having a lawyer who has been through this many times before can be beneficial.
One possible defense may be to claim that the malpractice in question never happened. For example, some clients will simply be unhappy with the result of a case, claiming that they would have won if not for legal malpractice. Demonstrating that no wrongdoing occurred can be one of the most effective defenses.
Another option may be to show that the client suffered no harm. For instance, maybe a minor deadline was missed, but it was easy enough to rectify by contacting the court. Even if the lawyer did make a mistake by missing that deadline, the client was not harmed and therefore has no basis for a lawsuit.
Call Now For A Consultation
If you would like to learn more about your options, our legal malpractice attorneys are waiting to take your call. Contact us at 907-885-3467 or use the online form to schedule your initial consultation with our experienced attorneys in Alaska.