Bloomberg Law
July 27, 2018, 8:44 PM UTC

Firm Disqualified for Dropping One Client to Sue Another

Mindy Rattan
Mindy Rattan
Reporter

A firm that represented two software competitors for years without issue can’t ditch one client and then sue it on behalf of the other, a Massachusetts federal court said July 26.

Patti B. Saris, chief judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, said the law firm’s breach of duty of loyalty was clear and the situation was not “unforeseeable.”

The decision calls to mind the “hot potato” doctrine, which generally says law firms can’t cure a conflict by dropping a client like a hot potato in order to take on a more lucrative client. Massachusetts hasn’t ...

Learn more about Bloomberg Law or Log In to keep reading:

Learn About Bloomberg Law

AI-powered legal analytics, workflow tools and premium legal & business news.

Already a subscriber?

Log in to keep reading or access research tools.