Elton v. Dougherty

SHARP, W., J.

Elton, the petitioner in this case, seeks certiorari review of the circuit court’s order that denied his motion to withdraw as counsel for the plaintiff, Mare Dougherty, in a civil lawsuit. We grant the writ.

In the lawsuit below, Dougherty sued various tobacco companies for injuries she suffered in 1997. She had a severe asthma attack which caused respiratory failure and left her partially paralyzed and partially blind. The amended complaint was served on May 8, 2001. She alleged and sought to prove that her constant inhalation of second-hand cigarette smoke in the course of her…