Holland & Knight LLP, a powerhouse law firm, is in the hot seat as a former client files a lawsuit, accusing the firm of breaching confidentiality during a heated divorce involving one of its former partners. The lawsuit, lodged in Pennsylvania court, alleges that former partner Patrick McCabe unlawfully accessed sensitive client documents to gain an upper hand in his personal legal battle. McCabe, who recently jumped ship to Polsinelli PC, faces allegations that could shake the legal world to its core.
Accusations of Document Breach in a Contentious Divorce
At the heart of this lawsuit are claims that McCabe, during his time at Holland & Knight, unlawfully accessed confidential documents from the Philadelphia personal injury law firm Fritz & Bianculli LLC. The law firm, which was also McCabe’s client at the time, found itself unwittingly entangled in his bitter divorce with his wife, Kristy McCabe, who was employed at Fritz & Bianculli.
According to the lawsuit, McCabe sought evidence of an alleged romantic relationship between his wife and Brian Fritz, a partner at Fritz & Bianculli. The suit paints a picture of a personal vendetta, with McCabe allegedly breaching professional lines to gather incriminating information. Kristy McCabe has reportedly obtained multiple protection orders against him, citing threats of violence.
Holland & Knight Sued : A Law Firm Caught in the Crossfire
Holland & Knight is accused of allowing this breach to occur under its watch. The suit claims the firm knew—or should have known—about McCabe’s conflict of interest with Fritz & Bianculli but failed to protect their client’s confidential information. The complaint asserts that Holland & Knight attorneys permitted McCabe to access sensitive data in violation of their fiduciary obligations. The ramifications of this alleged oversight have now escalated into a full-blown legal battle, with the lawsuit citing breach of fiduciary duty, civil conspiracy, and violations of both the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and the Stored Communications Act.
Holland & Knight Sued : Unveiling the Alleged Scheme
McCabe, now at Polsinelli, allegedly cracked his estranged wife’s work laptop credentials and used the information in their ongoing divorce case. But he didn’t stop there, according to the complaint. McCabe is accused of enlisting the help of two Holland & Knight employees to dig deeper into the firm’s confidential files, including sensitive discovery documents, bank records, and private call notes exchanged between lawyers representing Fritz & Bianculli.
