Legal Opinion
Schmidt v. Coogan
Washington Supreme Court
Decided October 9, 2014No. 88460-9PublishedCited by 17 opinions
1Opinion of the Court
¶1 This legal malpractice case presents two questions that we have never before addressed. The first is whether the elements of legal malpractice include the collectibility of an underlying judgment. Jurisdictions are split. We adopt the growing trend to make the uncollect*663ibility of an underlying judgment an affirmative defense that negligent attorneys must plead and prove. The second is whether emotional distress damages are available in legal malpractice cases. We hold that the facts of this case do not support an award of emotional distress damages.
Wiggins, J.
*663FACTS AND PROCEDURE
¶2 In…
2Cases cited62 opinions
- Washington State Physicians Insurance Exchange & Ass'n v. Fisons Corp.Washington Supreme Court · 1993
- Tank v. State Farm Fire and Casualty Co.Washington Supreme Court · 1986
- Hizey v. CarpenterWashington Supreme Court · 1992
- Hunsley v. GiardWashington Supreme Court · 1976
- Smith v. Safeco Ins. Co.Washington Supreme Court · 2003
57 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by17 opinions
- Vargas Ramirez v. United StatesDistrict Court, W.D. Washington · 2015
- Lehouillier v. GallegosSupreme Court of Colorado · 2019
- Patricia Kappes, Individually and as Personal Representative of the Estate of Lula M. Tanner v. Diana Rhodes and Rhodes Law Firm, Llc.Wyoming Supreme Court · 2024
- Akil v. Freedom Mortgage CorporationDistrict Court, W.D. Washington · 2025
- Arden v. Forsberg & Umlauf, PSWashington Supreme Court · 2017
12 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.