Court Opinion

ID: 9677554
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 05:55:05.268912+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:16:56.729380
License: Public Domain

Gribbs, J.
(dissenting). I dissent from that part of the majority opinion that reverses the decision of the trial court. The instant case is virtually identical to Seebacher v Fitzgerald, Hodgman, Cawthorne & King PC, 181 Mich App 642; 449 NW2d 673 (1989). In both Seebacher and the instant case, an attorney was retained to provide general legal representation with an emphasis on tax advice. In each case, the plaintiff clearly failed to file his complaint before the period of the applicable statute of limitations for legal malpractice had run. In each case the plaintiff sought to circumvent the statute of limitations by alleging that the defendant failed to notify the plaintiff of the possible grounds for malpractice, thus, fraudulently concealing the claim of malpractice and justifying the application of the special limitation period of MCL 600.5855; MSA 27A.5855. Furthermore, in each case, the plaintiff alleged that there existed a special arrangement, over and above the general retention for legal services, to provide special services for tax advice.
In Seebacher, this Court held that it is the type of interest harmed, rather than the label given the *536claim, that determines what limitation period controls. This Court concluded that the statute of limitations for legal malpractice applies to a legal malpractice action even when the action is denominated as one for breach of a contract to render competent legal services. In affirming the dismissal of the claims, this Court in Seebacher, supra, p 648, also held that "[i]n order to exist, the fraud must be manifested by some affirmative act or misrepresentation. Mere silence of the defendant is not enough.”
If this Court accepts the position advocated by plaintiff, every attorney who commits a legal error, which may later be deemed malpractice, and who bills his client for such services, will also have to defend against claims of fraudulent concealment and common-law fraud, unless the attorney immediately discloses the possibility that legal malpractice occurred.
I agree with the trial court that all three counts in this case sound in legal malpractice. Plaintiff failed to plead fraud with the requisite specificity, and I would decline to give him another opportunity to pursue the matter.
I would affirm the decision of the trial court.