Personal injury law firm faces legal malpractice lawsuit over alleged mishandling of auto accident cases

GRETNA – A law firm is being sued for legal malpractice over claims that it allegedly failed to provide proper representation of a client in an auto accident personal injury case.

Mary McCray, and husband Clarence McCray, filed suit against Craig S. Sossaman, Michael W. Collins and The Law Offices of Craig S. Sossaman, A Professional Law Corporation in the 24th Judicial District Court on Nov. 21.

McCray claims that after she was involved in a car accident on April 24, 2011 she contracted with the defendants to provide her with legal representation in two personal injury lawsuits against the other driver and insurance company for injuries she allegedly received. The plaintiff alleges that the defendants filed those lawsuits on her behalf in St. Tammany Parish and that both of those cases were dismissed, one “with prejudice” due to missteps of behalf of employees of The Law Offices of Craig S. Sossaman.

McCray contends that after the defendants lost an appeal over the dismissals she received a letter from the Law Offices of Craig S. Sossaman notifying her that she may be entitled to a legal malpractice claim for its handling of her cases and offering her a settlement of $20,004.98.

The defendant is accused of legal malpractice.

An unspecified amount in damages is sought for full compensatory value of damages in the personal injury lawsuits, additional medical expenses and legal fees.

McCray is represented by Shirim E. Harrell of New Orleans-based Harrell & Nowak LLC.

The case has been assigned to Division M Judge Henry G. Sullivan Jr.

Case no. 744-546.