McKenna Long & Aldridge, LLP v. Keller

Smith, Chief Judge.

We granted this application for interlocutory appeal to consider whether a party to a legal dispute may bring an action against an adversary’s attorney for negligence. We conclude that such an action is inappropriate because the plaintiff has alleged no legal duty owed to him by his opponent’s counsel. We therefore reverse the trial court’s denial of defendants’ motion for judgment on the pleadings.

Plaintiff John Keller is a former vice-president of First Atlanta Securities, LLC (First Atlanta). When Keller began work for First Atlanta, he signed an employment agreement,…