Rainen Law Office, P.C. v. Friedman & Atherton

Is a law firm that hires a lawyer title-examiner for a disclosed principal liable to pay for that work when the principal does not? In the circumstances of this case the trial court ruled, “No.” We agree.

Rainen Law Office, P.C. (“Plaintiff’) sought to recover $5,941.50 against the Friedman & Atherton law firm (“Defendant”) for title work. Relying on the well-established agency principle that an agent is not responsible for the deficiency of a disclosed principal, here, The Dime Savings Bank of New York (“Dime”), Defendant denied liability. It filed a motion to dismiss. Following a hearing on…