Firm partner, Michael S. Saltzman, obtained a defense verdict in a New Jersey legal malpractice case in the Superior Court of New Jersey's Law Division. A New Jersey appeals court has recently confirmed that defense verdict.

The malpractice action plaintiffs, who were businessmen, alleged inadequate legal defense during the underlying trial in an action brought against them by disgruntled investors in a business venture that failed. After a one week trial in the malpractice case, the jury found in favor of the Firm's clients, defendant lawyer and his law firm.

On appeal, the businessmen-plaintiffs alleged that the trial court erred in denying their request to change venue, and further erred by purportedly abusing its discretion when it granted the defense motion barring plaintiffs from introducing evidence of defendant lawyer's medical condition. The defendant lawyer suffered from sleep apnea which forced him to request a continuance of the underlying case.

The trial court held that there was no basis for the request to change venue simply because defendant's law practice was located in the county where the lawsuit was brought. In addition, the court held that there was no relevance to the lawyer's medical condition as there was no evidence that it affected his trial performance. The Appellate Division of New Jersey's Superior Court recently affirmed the jury's verdict for the Firm's clients.