Vaughan v. Walther

Nancy Vaughan seeks mandamus relief from a trial court order disqualifying her attorney from representing her in a child custody action. We conclude that the trial court abused its discretion in ordering the attorney’s disqualification, and therefore grant the requested relief.

In 1991, Nancy Vaughan hired attorney Thomas Goff to represent her daughter in a child custody matter. Goff filed an answer and a motion to transfer venue on behalf of Vaughan’s daughter. Two weeks after the case was filed, it was dismissed. Goff never met or spoke with Vaughan’s daughter during the seventeen days he…