.
Professional Liability

Legal Updates for Lawyers' Professional Liability

Malpractice Case Against Guardian Ad Litem Dismissed Based on Immunity

LoPresti v. Galchus, S/Queens, Justice Carmen R. Velasquez, 717561/2020

May 16, 2022

by Nicholas P. Chrysanthem

A legal malpractice action was brought against the defendant, the court-appointed attorney for a minor child in a custody proceeding. The plaintiff brought the action to recover damages for legal malpractice and punitive damages, alleging the defendant failed to fulfill his obligations as a court-appointed attorney for her child. Specifically, the plaintiff contended that the defendant failed to zealously advocate for the child, failed to inform the court of the child's position on relocation, and failed to assist the child in articulating her position to the court. The plaintiff further alleged that, but for the defendant's negligence and failure to advocate for his client, custody never would have been transferred to the plaintiff's ex-husband. 

The court granted the defendant summary judgment and dismissed the case, determining that permitting a legal malpractice case to proceed against a court-appointed attorney would go against public policy and discourage attorneys from serving as court-appointed counsel. The court also noted that immunity from litigation is necessary to protect court-appointed counsel from harassment and intimidation.

Interestingly, the court dismissed this legal malpractice case on remitter despite the fact that the Appellate Division found that the defendant did not properly advocated for the interests of the child. The court held, that alone is not enough to overcome immunity. The court further found a lack of privity between the defendant and the plaintiff. 
 

Legal Update for Lawyers’ Professional Liability – May 2022 is prepared by Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin to provide information on recent legal developments of interest to our readers. This publication is not intended to provide legal advice for a specific situation or to create an attorney-client relationship. We would be pleased to provide such legal assistance as you require on these and other subjects when called upon. ATTORNEY ADVERTISING pursuant to New York RPC 7.1 Copyright © 2022 Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin, all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reprinted without the express written permission of our firm. For reprints or inquiries, or if you wish to be removed from this mailing list, contact tamontemuro@mdwcg.com.

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On August 21, 2026, Casey will serve as a panelist for the live webcast program, “Pennsylvania Appellate Update 2025-2026” presented by the Appellate Advocacy Committee of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and Pennsylvania Bar Institute. The program is divided into three parts—Criminal, Civil, and Administrative. Casey will serve as a panelist for the Civil portion, along with Christina McKinley of Blank Rome, Ben Baer of Injury Law Partners, John Masslon of Keller Postman, Jonathan Bruno of Bruno Litigation LLC, and moderator, Ezza Ahmed of Buchanan Ingersoll.  Registration and more information: https://www.pbi.org/product/pennsylvania-appellate-update-2025-2026/

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