Opinion ID: 2602071
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: To Avoid Summary Judgment on His Malpractice Claim, Borghetti Was Required to Raise a Genuine Issue of Material Fact as to Whether He Would Have Been Awarded Damages in an Appraisal Action

Text: ¶16 The lack of damages or absence of direct causation of damages by the alleged malpractice is fatal to any legal malpractice claim. [5] Plaintiffs suing for malpractice must show that there was a causal connection between the breach of duty and the resulting injury. [6] They must first prove the case within the case. [7] The case within the case in this instance is the underlying appraisal action. After Bendinger Crockett submitted evidence showing that Borghetti suffered no damages as a result of failing to file an appraisal action, the burden shifted to Borghetti to show that he was damaged by Bendinger Crockett's failure to inform him of the 120-day deadline to commence an appraisal action. Therefore, to avoid summary judgment on his legal malpractice claim, Borghetti was required to show that he could have prevailed and collected damages in an appraisal action.