Court Dismisses Estranged Spouse's Negligence Action Against Dead Husband's Counsel

LOS ANGELES - A widow who sued two law firms for allegedly conspiring with her husband to deprive her of her community property interest in his asbestos litigation settlement has not created an actionable claim, a California appeals court has ruled, concluding that plaintiff did not show that her husband's counsel owed her a duty of care. Mercado v. Davis & Thomas, et al., No. B144775 (Calif. Ct. App., 2nd App. Dist., Div. 2).

The Court of Appeal of California's Nov. 27 decision maintained that undivided loyalty is fundamental to the attorney-client relationship and should not be diluted by a …