The Appellate Division has reaffirmed trial courts' authority to require a legal malpractice plaintiff to present expert testimony to demonstrate proximate cause.

In an Aug. 2 decision, Appellate Division Judges Mitchel Ostrer and Francis Vernoia declined to reinstate legal malpractice claims filed by a dissatisfied ex-client against two of her former divorce attorneys.

Plaintiff Randy Rosenblatt alleged that Vincent Stripto and Howard Bachman failed to inform her that she had a potential marital tort claim against her ex-husband because of three instances of alleged physical abuse.