Nigel L. Scott v. Janice Burgin

STEADMAN, Senior Judge:

Appellants Nigel L. Scott and the Yal-lery and Scott Law Firm (collectively, “Scott”) appeal from a jury malpractice award in favor of appellee Janice Burgin, who was not a client of the firm. We hold that, as a matter of law, appellants’ duty of care did not extend to Burgin and, accordingly, reverse the judgment.

I. Factual Background

Kenneth Woodruff (“Woodruff’ or the “decedent”) was married to, but separated from, Patricia Woodruff when he met Bur-gin in 1983. He proposed to her in that year and again in 1996. In 1986 Burgin moved in with Woodruff, and they carried…