La. Appellate Court Reinstates Legal Malpractice Claim Over Lease Agreement

SHREVEPORT, La. - Landowners who agreed to lease mineral rights, only to see the deal withdrawn, can pursue malpractice and negligence claims against their neighbor-lawyer who represented himself and neighboring property owners, a Louisiana appellate court has ruled. Scranton, et al. v. Ashley Ann Energy, et al., No. 46,984-CA (La. Ct. App., 2nd Cir.).

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the trial court's dismissal of those counterclaims as untimely, concluding that the landowners did not have constructive notice of a claim until retaining new counsel, who filed their reconventional demand within the one-year prescription period.

The court also said …