Section: FLP News FLP Successfully Defends Appeal of Legal Malpractice Case Against Law Firm Client. Posted on Apr 21, 2015 April 21, 2015 Los Angeles, California . California's Court of Appeal has affirmed a Judgment by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Steven J. Kleifield entered after a bench trial on Plaintiff Patrick Duff's claims for legal malpractice, breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty against Mr. Fredman's clients David R. Welch and Mr. Welch's law firm. On April 21, 2015, the Court of Appeal in an unpublished decision, rejected Duff's contentions that the trial court violated Duff's constitutional right to a jury trial by denying relief from his inadvertent jury waiver. It also denied Duff's contentions that the law firm's representation had been limited in scope (to a restraining order proceeding) before execution of a retainer agreement expanding the scope of retention. It further held that the trial judge's membership in the same bar organization did not constitute impermissible bias and that Duff had an obligation to raise that concern at the earliest practicable opportunity. The unpublished Court of Appeal Opinion is here. Related Articles Howard Fredman addresses The Southern California Business Litigation Inn of Court in Los Angeles. 15-Jun-2015 Howard Fredman is being installed as the president of the Beverly Hills Bar Association 21-Sep-2015 FLP delivers Memorial Bankruptcy 2-Mar-2018 Attorneys Marc A. Lieberman and Alan W. Forsley Recertified as Bankruptcy Specialists 5-Oct-2017 Howard Fredman Interview in Beverly Hills Weekly 17-Sep-2015