Opinion ID: 1844301
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: The Standard of Care Issue

Text: ¶ 25. The Lanes argued that Rosetti breached his fiduciary duty in failing to inform them of the unrepaired termite damage and in failing to give them a copy of the termite report at closing. The trial court decided and the Court of Appeals agreed that Rosetti owed a fiduciary duty to the Lanes. Rosetti in his testimony acknowledged that the Lanes had a right to expect him to enforce their rights under the contract and that he had a duty to close the sale in accordance with the contract between the buyer and the seller. Nevertheless, the Court of Appeals held that the directed verdict in favor of Rosetti was proper because the Lanes failed to offer expert testimony to support their malpractice claim. [1] ¶ 26. The Lanes argue that their claim against Rosetti was not that he breached a standard of care of minimally competent attorneys, but that his failure to disclose the unfavorable termite report was a breach of standard of conduct. As such, they assert, there was no need to present expert testimony to support the claim because there were no special skills, knowledge, experience, or the like involved. We think the Lanes are correct. The Court has recognized that there are circumstances in which a jury might determine the issue of an attorney's negligence without the benefit of expert testimony. Dean v. Conn, 419 So.2d 148, 151 (Miss.1982). ¶ 27. In an action involving a legal malpractice claim where the attorney had represented both the insurer and the insured in a personal injury action arising from an automobile accident, this Court held that legal malpractice may be a violation of the standard of care of exercising the knowledge, skill, and ability ordinarily possessed and exercised by members of the legal profession similarly situated, or the breach of a fiduciary duty. Hartford Acc. & Indem. Co. v. Foster, 528 So.2d 255, 285 (Miss.1988). We stated: Some courts seem to distinguish a breach of the fiduciary obligations from legal malpractice. The prevailing and more reasonable view, however, is that legal malpractice encompasses any professional misconduct whether attributable to a breach of the standard of care or of the fiduciary obligations. In recognition of the dual bases of an attorney's liability, some courts have referred to the fiduciary obligations as setting forth a standard of conduct. Thus, under the theoretical approach legal malpractice may be defined as a breach by an attorney of either the standard of care or of the standard of conduct. Thus, legal malpractice may be a violation of the standard of care of exercising the knowledge, skill, and ability ordinarily possessed and exercised by members of the legal profession similarly situated, or the breach of a fiduciary duty. The declaration here charges a fiduciary violation as the basis for this malpractice action. To recover under the negligence theory of legal malpractice, the client must prove the existence of an attorney-client relationship, the acts constituting negligence, that the negligence proximately caused the injury, and the fact and extent of the injury. Hickox v. Holleman, 502 So.2d at 634; Hutchinson v. Smith, 417 So.2d 926 (Miss.1982); Thompson v. Erving's Hatcheries, Inc., 186 So.2d 756 (Miss.1966). However, the legal malpractice alleged in this case is a violation of the standard of conduct, not breach of the standard of care. The elements of this cause of action are the same as other legal malpractice actions except, instead of proving negligence, the plaintiff must prove a violation of the attorney's fiduciary duty. 528 So.2d at 285. Clearly established law provides that expert testimony is necessary to establish the breach of a duty of care in a claim of legal malpractice; however, when the claim is for breach of the standard of conduct, we conclude that lack of expert testimony should not preclude the issue from being heard by a jury. ¶ 28. Whether Rosetti breached his fiduciary duty to the Lanes is not the kind of question that necessarily confronts a jury with issues that require specialized knowledge or experience. Rosetti was aware of a material fact affecting the terms of the Lane's real estate purchase. He was aware of the importance of the noted unrepaired termite damage and demonstrated that awareness by informing Owen of the need to have a professional inspect the house. Furthermore, Rosetti had a duty to bring this fact to the attention of the Lanes and to be certain that they were aware of the termite damage to the house. The Lanes testified that they did not receive a copy of the termite report at closing, and the trial court found that Rosetti did not provide a copy to them. We find that a jury should have been allowed to make the determination on the issue of breach of the standard of conduct or breach of the fiduciary duty without an expert witness' testimony. This issue is remanded to the trial court for proceedings in accordance with this Court's decision.