Opinion ID: 1749386
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: did the trial court err in failing to allow defense counsel to withdraw their representation of lavern dillon?

Text: The day before trial the defense attorneys moved to be relieved as counsel for Dillon citing a conflict of interest. A pretrial hearing was held on this motion. Here, National is arguing that because Dillon misrepresented the extent of his knowledge to the company a conflict of interest arose in defending both Dillon and National. National asserts that the burden of defending Dillon prevented it from defending the bad faith allegation by asserting that its actions had been the result of misrepresentations by Dillon. This argument fails for two reasons. First, as discussed above, the misrepresentations and non-disclosures of National's agents were not limited to Dillon. Blount and Brashier were equally culpable when it came to stymieing Mrs. Miller's claim. By simply asserting that Dillon was responsible for misrepresentations to the claims office, National was in no better position. Secondly, a directed verdict as to Dillon was entered at the close of the plaintiff's case; therefore, the defense attorneys were relieved of any obligation to put on proof as to Dillon's defense. They were then freed to point the finger of blame at Dillon, regardless of how legally ineffective that might have been. There is no merit to this argument.