Opinion ID: 2170439
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: Whether Attorney's Conduct Willful and In Bad Faith.

Text: As for the third listed Ward factor, whether the attorney's conduct was willful and in bad faith, the trial court's finding is confusing because the trial court states that plaintiff's attorney's conduct was willful and in bad faith as evidenced by the delay in procuring information on Brian's prior injuries. The trial court apparently did not find the delay in supplying information on Brian's prior injuries to be adequately explained by local counsel's affidavit. But then the trial court states that local counsel was disadvantaged by action or lack of action by New York counsel. Nonetheless, it is clear that the trial court found this delay in providing information to show willful, bad faith apparently by one or more of the plaintiffs' attorneys; and this finding of bad faith is not clearly erroneous nor does it reflect an abuse of discretion. We would also note that it is appropriate for the trial court to address whether a party, in addition to counsel, has acted willfully and in bad faith, particularly in cases of self-representation.