Opinion ID: 1297643
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: breach of standard of care

Text: Having determined that a reasonable finder of fact could find that an attorney-client relationship existed between McVaney and Laughlin with respect to the MUD lawsuit, we next consider whether Laughlin neglected his reasonable duty in failing to timely file the claim against MUD. An attorney `impliedly agrees to use such skill, prudence, and diligence as lawyers of ordinary skill and capacity commonly possess and exercise in the performance of the tasks which they undertake....' [Citations omitted.] Stansbery v. Schroeder, 226 Neb. 492, 497, 412 N.W.2d 447, 450 (1987). Baird contends that expert testimony was necessary to show the standard of care for attorneys with respect to the statute of limitations and that no expert testimony as to that issue was offered. Laughlin testified that he was unaware of the applicable statute of limitations and that it was a breach of the standard of care for attorneys in Omaha, Nebraska, to not be aware of the 1-year statute of limitations for filing claims against political subdivisions. In its second amended answer, Baird admitted that MUD was a political subdivision. By way of depositional testimony, Laughlin further related that it was a breach of the standard of care for attorneys in Omaha, Nebraska, not to inform a client that he or she had 1 year in which to file a claim against MUD. Laughlin testified at trial that he did not have knowledge of the statute of limitations until McVaney informed Laughlin that McVaney had been advised by another attorney that the statute of limitations had run. In this case, no outside expert testimony was necessary because Laughlin's testimony established a lawyer's standard of care respecting a statute of limitations. Upon review of the evidence, it is plain that a reasonable finder of fact could conclude that Laughlin, in failing to timely file an action against MUD for McVaney, breached his duty of care.