Case Name: Thomas Rivera, an Infant, by His Guardian ad Litem, Kaye M. Rivera, et al., Respondents, v. Harry O'Connor et al., Defendants. John J. Lynch, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1963-03-18
Citations: 18 A.D.2d 1020
Docket Number: 
Parties: Thomas Rivera, an Infant, by His Guardian ad Litem, Kaye M. Rivera, et al., Respondents, v. Harry O’Connor et al., Defendants. John J. Lynch, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 18
Pages: 1020–1021

Head Matter:
Thomas Rivera, an Infant, by His Guardian ad Litem, Kaye M. Rivera, et al., Respondents, v. Harry O’Connor et al., Defendants. John J. Lynch, Appellant.

Opinion:
In a negligence action, John J. Lynch, the original attorney for the plaintiffs, appeals from an order of the Supreme Court, Queens County, dated October 26, 1962, which granted plaintiffs' motion to substitute Howard R. Levine as their attorney in the place and stead of appellant, John J. Lynch. Order affirmed, without costs. A client has absolute right to select or to discharge an attorney at any time, with or without cause (Lurie v. New Amsterdam Cas. Co., 270 N. Y. 379). Such a right is also possessed by a guardian ad litem (Greenburg v. New York Cent. & Hudson Riv. R. R. Co., 210 N. Y. 505). Although the infant plaintiff's mother, as a guardian ad litem, is responsible to the court for her conduct, her fitness as a guardian may not be tested on a motion to substitute attorneys. Beldoek, P. J., Ughetta, Christ, Rabin and Hopkins, JJ., concur.