Opinion ID: 2995206
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Attorney’s Deficient Performance

Text: Stanciel’s final argument is that we should reverse and remand for a retrial because his attorney’s performance was so inadequate as to deprive him of a fair opportunity to present [his] case. Thomas v. Pate, 493 F.2d 151, 158 (7th Cir. 1974), vacated on other grounds sub nom. Canon v. Thomas, 419 U.S. 813, 95 S. Ct. 288, 42 L. Ed. 2d 39 (1974). Although we do not challenge Stanciel’s assertion that his attorney’s performance was deficient in several respects-- counsel failed to address all of the issues in defendants’ motion to dismiss, respond to the court’s order to show cause why DOC should not be dismissed, and impeach clearly false testimony of witnesses--we cannot accept his argument that retrial is a proper remedy for defective representation in a civil action. Our cases make it quite clear that there is no Sixth Amendment right to effective assistance of counsel in a civil case. See Bell v. Eastman Kodak Co., 214 F.3d 798, 802 (7th Cir. 2000) (finding that ineffective assistance of counsel is not proper grounds for collaterally attacking a civil judgment); Hutcherson v. Smith, 908 F.2d 243, 245 (7th Cir. 1990) ([I]t is a well-established principle of law that there is, in general, no constitutional or statutory right to effective assistance of counsel in civil cases.). The proper remedy for inadequate representation in a civil case lies not in dragging the opposing party through another trial, but rather in a malpractice action against the offending attorney. See Pokuta v. Trans World Airlines Inc., 191 F.3d 834, 840 (7th Cir. 1999); Bell, 214 F.3d at 802. Although it is certainly unfortunate that Stanciel’s trial attorney failed to provide vigorous representation of his client, it is well established that an attorney’s shortcomings do not entitle his client to a new trial in a civil case.