Opinion ID: 2035718
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: maurice fokken

Text: Fokken was involved in a motor vehicle accident in December 1991. Fokken ultimately retained Steichen to represent him in the litigation pertaining to that accident. In December 1997, Fokken filed a professional liability action against Steichen. Fokken alleged that without Fokken's authority, Steichen accepted a settlement offer in the amount of $8,627.57 and stipulated to the dismissal with prejudice of Fokken's lawsuit after the statute of limitations had run on Fokken's claim. Fokken further alleged that without Fokken's knowledge or consent, Steichen signed Fokken's name and the name of his ex-wife on a release agreement and on the back of a settlement check, endorsing that check, and that Fokken had not received the proceeds of the settlement check. The district court granted summary judgment in favor of Fokken on the issue of liability and on the issue of damages against Steichen. The court entered judgment against Steichen in the amount of $50,000. That amount included $40,000, which the court concluded to be the fair and reasonable settlement value or jury verdict of Fokken's claim had it been prosecuted in the absence of professional malpractice, and $10,000 in attorney fees. The court explained that. Fokken alleged that the following acts by Steichen constituted legal malpractice: (1) his failure to communicate with Fokken all settlement offers, (2) his acceptance of a settlement offer on Fokken's behalf without approval or consent by Fokken, (3) his allowance of Fokken's lawsuit to be dismissed with prejudice after the statute of limitations had expired, and (4) his breach of his professional fiduciary duty to act in Fokken's best interest. The court entered judgment in favor of Fokken in the amount of $50,000. After judgment was entered in Fokken's favor, Fokken instituted garnishment proceedings against Coregis. Like Miller, Fokken alleged that the Policy issued by Coregis provided coverage for Fokken's claims against Steichen.