A medical malpractice dispute between Dr. Michael D. Kotler and New Jersey law firm Porzio Bromberg & Newman PC will be relocated from Louisiana to New Jersey, following a joint motion filed Monday in federal court seeking a venue transfer to the District of New Jersey.
The agreement, submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, marks a shift in the legal battle that began earlier this year. As part of the deal, Porzio Bromberg also agreed to withdraw a previously filed motion to dismiss the claims for lack of jurisdiction.
Origin of the Dispute: Allegations of Legal Malpractice
Kotler, a physician and former head of RemoteMD, originally filed suit in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana state court in February. He alleges that Porzio Bromberg and firm principal Deirdre R. Wheatley-Liss failed to provide adequate legal counsel during a business transaction that ultimately led to the collapse of his medical practice and his personal bankruptcy.
Kotler accuses the firm of pulling him into a conflicted deal without obtaining a conflict waiver, and of concealing key contracts and email communications. His complaint includes causes of action for legal negligence, breach of contract, and breach of fiduciary duty.
