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New York Attorney Malpractice Nets $250,000 Default Judgment

A New York federal court awarded a $250,000 default judgment against a lawyer who caused the dismissal of a client's case.

Charles Robinson retained lawyer Campbell Holder to represent him in a New York state action against his former employer, Metro-North Railroad. Robinson alleged that Metro-North forced Robinson to undergo drug treatment at Gracie Square Hospital, where he was physically assaulted, threatened and mentally abused by prisoners and staff during his 25-day confinement. The action was dismissed, however, when Holder did not oppose Defendants' summary judgment motion.

On June 25, 2007, Robinson and his estate brought a federal diversity malpractice action against Holder. Plaintiffs reside in South Carolina and "Holder is presently incarcerated at Ogdensburg Correctional Facility, having pleaded guilty to various fraud charges in New York state court." Holder was served on June 28, 2007, but did not appear. The court entered a default against him, and then concluded that Plaintiffs were entitled to damages of $10,000 per day for the 25-days Robinson was detained, for a total award of $250,000. See: Robinson v. Holder, Case No. 07 Civ. 5992(DLC) (SD NY 2008).

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Related legal case

Robinson v. Holder