Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP, a prominent law firm, and one of its former attorneys, S. David Smith, have been hit with a federal lawsuit in California. The suit, filed by Rockhill Consulting Group LLC and its president, Daniel R. Koetting, accuses the firm and Smith of negligence and breach of fiduciary duty during a 2018 arbitration that allegedly resulted in at least $17.5 million in damages for the plaintiffs.
Allegations of Legal Malpractice and Breach of Duty
The lawsuit centers on Bradley Arant’s representation of Rockhill Consulting Group and Koetting in a dispute with a tribal lending entity owned by the Big Lagoon Rancheria, a federally recognized Native American tribe in California. The plaintiffs claim that the firm’s legal services “fell far below the standard of care,” leading to an unfavorable outcome in the arbitration.
According to the complaint, Bradley Arant made the questionable decision to consolidate Rockhill’s claims with those from another dispute involving Koetting’s brother, despite the distinct business operations of the two companies. The plaintiffs argue that this decision, along with inadequate preparation for the arbitration, led to a “one-sided, superficial and disorganized presentation,” ultimately resulting in a significant judgment against Rockhill.
Claims of Poor Preparation and Conflict of Interest
The lawsuit alleges that Bradley Arant and Smith failed to properly analyze evidence, initiate timely discovery, or designate necessary experts, despite the complex accounting and damage issues involved in the case. Additionally, the plaintiffs contend that the firm did not adequately inform them of potential conflicts of interest arising from its joint representation of the Koetting brothers and their respective companies.
