Opinion ID: 1674262
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 32

Heading: conclusion

Text: It can be said as a matter of law that Century 21 gratuitously assumed a duty to the Corsons to obtain a title update on the subject property or to give notice that it would not have the title work done while the Corsons had other means available to obtain the update. Even viewing all evidence in the record, there was no breach of the duty assumed by Century 21. It follows that Century 21 could not have been liable to the Corsons under a theory of negligence. Accordingly, we reverse and render as to Century 21. We affirm the chancellor's finding that Steighner was negligent as regards the Meiers. The Corsons are entitled to only nominal damages and no attorney fees from the Meiers as there was merely a technical breach of the covenant of freedom from incumbrance. As the Meiers would not have been liable to the Corsons but for Steighner's negligence, the Meiers are entitled to indemnity from Steighner in a sum sufficient to cover the amount of their attorney fees and the nominal damages they must pay the Corsons. As to the Meiers, we affirm the chancellor's finding of breach of warranty. We reverse and remand to the Chancery Court of Lowndes County for a determination of nominal damages due the Corsons and for proper determination of the amount of the Meiers' indemnity from Steighner, consistent with this opinion. With this opinion we modify legal malpractice actions based on an attorney's negligence in performing title work by abolishing the requirement of attorney-client relationship and extending liability to foreseeable third parties who detrimentally rely on such title work, suffering a loss, proximately caused by the attorney's negligence. The presence or absence of an attorney-client relationship is now merely one factor to consider in determining the duty owed. Notwithstanding this modification, we reverse and render as to the Corsons' claim against Steighner because the Corsons failed to prove damages. ON DIRECT APPEAL: AFFIRMED IN PART; REVERSED AND RENDERED IN PART; REVERSED AND REMANDED IN PART TO THE CHANCERY COURT OF LOWNDES COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, FOR PROCEEDINGS CONSISTENT WITH THIS OPINION. ON CROSS-APPEAL: AFFIRMED. ROY NOBLE LEE, C.J., HAWKINS and DAN M. LEE, P.JJ., and PRATHER, PITTMAN, BANKS, McRAE and ROBERTS, JJ., concur.