A former client is suing Carlton Fields Jorden Burt and Miami shareholders Merrick L. Gross and Jay A. Steinman for legal malpractice over a derailed $25 million land deal.
Real estate investor 276 Port L.P.’s three-count complaint alleges negligence and breach of fiduciary duty against all defendants and negligent misrepresentation against Carlton Fields and Gross. The company hired the corporate law firm to handle aspects of the acquisition, including devising a litigation strategy for removing long-term leases encumbering the property. Port claims Carlton Fields incorrectly advised it could terminate the leases — advice that ultimately led the would-be buyer to lose a $250,000 deposit when the deal couldn’t close.
