Case Name: Teresa Maksimiak, Appellant, v. Schwartzapfel Novick Truhowsky Marcus, P.C., et al., Respondents
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2011-03-29
Citations: 82 A.D.3d 652
Docket Number: 
Parties: Teresa Maksimiak, Appellant, v Schwartzapfel Novick Truhowsky Marcus, P.C., et al., Respondents.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 82
Pages: 652–653

Head Matter:
Teresa Maksimiak, Appellant, v Schwartzapfel Novick Truhowsky Marcus, P.C., et al., Respondents.
[919 NYS2d 330]

Opinion:
The motion court properly determined that plaintiff failed to state a cause of action for legal malpractice. The documentary evidence established that plaintiffs successor counsel had sufficient time and opportunity to adequately protect plaintiffs rights. Indeed, plaintiffs English counsel timely commenced a lawsuit in England based on the underlying motor vehicle accident that occurred in England. Accordingly, defendants' alleged negligence cannot be considered a proximate cause of plaintiffs alleged injury (see Somma v Dansker & Aspromonte Assoc., 44 AD3d 376 [2007]).
The court also properly dismissed plaintiffs claim under Judiciary Law § 487. Plaintiff s allegations of deceit are belied by the record, and she failed to allege that she sustained damages as a result of defendants' conduct (see Havell v Islam, 292 AD2d 210 [2002]).
We have considered plaintiffs remaining arguments and find them unavailing. Concur — Tom, J.P, Sweeny, Catterson, Acosta and Manzanet-Daniels, JJ.