Ungar & Byrne law firm sued for legal malpractice involving workplace injury lawsuit

GRETNA – A law firm is being sued by a former client it represented in a workplace accident, but allegedly failed to gather proper evidence resulting in the case being dismissed.

Louis Perkins filed suit against Ungar & Byrne, a Professional Law Corporation; Evette E. Ungar Esq.; George W. Byrne Jr. Esq. and Louis R. Koerner Jr. Esq. in the 24th Judicial District Court on Aug. 26.

Perkins asserts that he was working on an oyster boat in Plaquemines Parish when the vessel he was on ran into an underwater pipe and he was subsequently severely injured. The plaintiff claims that he hired the defendants to represent him on a contingency fee basis and that during their representation of him they failed to help provide proof of his injuries necessary to support his case. Perkins alleges that due to a lack of medical evidence his case was dismissed by the district court in which it was brought.

The defendants are accused of legal malpractice, failing to communicate with their client, failing to adequately prepare their client’s case, failing to take the plaintiff’s case to trial, negligent hiring, negligent instruction, negligent supervision, negligent retention, failing to warn the plaintiff and failing to use due diligence.

An unspecified amount in damages is sought for all damages that would have been awarded in the initial case.

Perkins is represented by attorney Adam S. Lambert of New Orleans.

The case has been assigned to Division P Judge Lee V. Faulkner Jr.

Case no. 741-692.