NEW ORLEANS – An attorney is being sued by a client for allegedly instructing her to take a settlement after she was arrested.
Melissa Herdon filed suit against Gerald J. Leydecker in the Orleans Parish District Court on July 7, 2015.
Herdon claims that Leydecker negligently encouraged her to settle a personal injury claim for a minimal amount.
The plaintiff alleges that after she was arrested on Sept. 29, 2014, for “doctor shopping," Leydecker, her attorney in an unrelated case counseled her that the arrest would limit her credibility and ability to recover damages on the personal injury matter for which he was her attorney. Around May 26, 2015, Herdon contends the Jefferson Parish District Attorney dismissed all charges against Herdon related to her arrest.
The defendant is accused of breaching fiduciary duties owed to the plaintiff.
The plaintiff claims that the defendant settled her personal injury claim negligently, prematurely, and in an amount that was far less that the true value of the matter.
An unspecified amount in damages is sought for permanent loss of substantial monies, mental anguish and distress, psychological disability, loss of enjoyment of life, and legal fees.
Herdon is represented by M. Ali Shahlaei.
The case has been assigned to Judge Paulette R. Irons
Case no. 2015-06475.