Opinion ID: 2615014
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Abril v. Lewis and Cunningham: Counts 6-9

Text: In January 1985, while still employed by Abril, Harris contacted attorney M. Byron Lewis and requested assistance in preparing Abril's answering brief in the Globe appeal. Harris sent Lewis portions of the case file, and also filed a notice of association of counsel, naming Lewis as one of Abril's counsel on appeal. After Lewis discovered a conflict of interest in his firm, he returned the file to Harris with a letter explaining the conflict, and advising that he could not assist Harris in the appeal. Harris then employed John R. Cunningham to assist him in preparing the appellee's brief on Abril's behalf. However, after Abril fired Harris in April 1985 and retained respondent to represent him in the appeal, respondent had that brief stricken by court order on May 31, 1985, and substituted his own brief on Abril's behalf. Based on these facts, the original complaint in the Abril v. Harris litigation alleged a cause of action against attorneys Lewis and Cunningham for strict liability for unauthorized representation, seeking damages of $1,300,000 plus interest for Abril's diminished chances of succeeding on appeal. Lewis subsequently was granted summary judgment on the count naming him as a defendant, and was awarded attorney's fees. Respondent, on behalf of Abril, appealed from the award of fees, and the court of appeals affirmed, also awarding attorney's fees to Lewis and imposing a $1,500 sanction against respondent. Respondent's petition for review on behalf of Abril to this court was denied, with an award of fees to Lewis for $3,907.50. The count against Cunningham was dismissed with prejudice by stipulation of the parties, with each party bearing their own attorney's fees and costs. Counts 6, 7, 8, and 9 of the bar complaint arose out of the inclusion of Lewis and Cunningham in Abril's lawsuit against Harris in superior court, the appeal from an order denying a motion for new trial, and the petition for review from the appellate order affirming the trial court.