The defendant law firm moved for summary judgment dismissing a former client’s action for solicitor’s negligence arising from a failed motor vehicle personal injury claim.
The plaintiff alleged the lawyers mishandled the underlying litigation and caused her to lose at trial.
The court held that even if deficiencies in the lawyers’ conduct were assumed, the plaintiff could not prove that any breach caused her loss or that she lost a viable chance of success.
The evidence showed the poor trial outcome resulted from weaknesses in the plaintiff’s case rather than the lawyers’ conduct.
The plaintiff’s claim for repayment of legal fees was also barred by res judicata based on a prior court‑approved settlement of the fees dispute.