Do Legal Malpractice Claims Require Expert Testimony in Connecticut?
In most Connecticut legal malpractice cases, expert testimony is required. Courts usually rely on qualified attorneys to explain the standard of care and whether it was breached. Without that testimony, many claims cannot proceed unless the mistake is obvious to a non-lawyer.
When Is Expert Testimony Required in...
When Does Bad Legal Strategy Become Malpractice in Connecticut?
A lawyer’s bad strategy is not automatically legal malpractice in Connecticut. Courts do not treat every losing argument, failed motion, or disappointing result as negligence. To have a valid malpractice claim, you must show that the lawyer’s handling of the matter fell below the professional standard of care and that the...
When Settlement Pressure Becomes Legal Negligence
Settlement pressure becomes legal negligence when your attorney pushes you to accept an agreement without proper preparation, investigation, or full disclosure, and that pressure causes financial harm. Lawyers can recommend settlement. They cannot coerce, mislead, or place their own interests above yours.
Most civil cases in Connecticut settle. That...
What Happens After You File a Legal Malpractice Lawsuit in Connecticut
After you file a legal malpractice lawsuit in Connecticut, the case moves into a structured court process that includes service of process, pleadings, discovery, possible motions, and, in some cases, trial. While every case is different, the path forward follows clear procedural rules and deadlines.
If you are...
The Judicial Website
As a client involved in Connecticut State litigation, you should know that all official state court filings are publicly available on the Connecticut judicial website known as jud.ct.gov. You can enter this website and search for your case under the case name, which will likely include your name, or search under the...
Legal Malpractice and Missed Deadlines: Consequences of Late Filing in Connecticut
In legal matters, individuals may have to meet various deadlines, such as filing claims within a specific time after their cause of action accrued, or submitting documents to courts or administrative agencies. Missing deadlines can make or break an individual’s case, potentially leading to the loss of critical legal rights or options....
“Do I Need a Second Lawyer?” — Knowing When to Seek Legal Malpractice Counsel
If your attorney has been missing deadlines for your case or failing to return your calls, you might be starting to question their work and wondering, “Do I need a second lawyer?” When a lawyer agrees to represent you, they have a duty to keep you informed, keep track of the important...
What to Do if Your Lawyer Ruined Your Personal Injury Claim with Legal Malpractice
You hired an attorney to fight for...
Signs Your Lawyer May Be Breaching Their Duty of Care
Stanfield Law Firm Leads Seminar at Annual Connecticut Bar Association Meeting and Shares Thoughts on Key Legal Malpractice Issues and Rulings for Other Connecticut Lawyers
Helping attorneys stay ahead of evolving malpractice laws, client rights, and precedent-setting rulings.
Attorneys across Connecticut gained fresh insight into legal malpractice issues and law this summer as Sandra Stanfield shared the latest issues, views, and landmark rulings at the Connecticut Bar Association’s annual meeting.