Majority
In an action to recover damages for legal malpractice, the plaintiff appeals from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Suffolk County (Seidell, J.), entered February 11, 2004, which, upon the
Ordered that the judgment is affirmed, with costs.
The Supreme Court correctly determined that the plaintiff in this action to recover damages for legal malpractice bore the burden of establishing that a hypothetical judgment in the underlying action would have been collectible against the third-party debtor (see McKenna v Forsyth & Forsyth, 280 AD2d 79 , 82-84 [2001]; see also Vooth v McEachen, 181 NY 28 [1905]; Evangelista v Slatt, 295 AD2d 156 [2002]; Chiaffi v Wexler, Bergerman & Crucet, 116 AD2d 614 , 615 [1986]; Titsworth v Mondo, 95 Misc 2d 233 , 242-243 [1978]; Leavy v Kramer, 34 Misc 2d 479 , 480 [1962]; Schweizer v Mulvehill, 93 F Supp 2d 376 , 396 [2000] [applying New York law]; but see Lindenman v Kreitzer, 7 AD3d 30 [2004]). His failure to establish a prima facie case on the issue of collectibility, even after the Supreme Court granted him leave to reopen his case to do so, warranted the granting of judgment as a matter of law in favor of the defendant.
The parties’ remaining contentions are without merit. Santucci, J.P., Luciano, Rivera and Fisher, JJ., concur.
Cases cited
- McKenna v. Forsyth & Forsyth 280 AD2d 79 at 82-84 p. 597
- Vooth v. McEachen 181 NY 28 p. 597
- Brown v. Moore 116 AD2d 614 at 615 p. 597
- Titsworth v. Mondo 95 Misc 2d 233 at 242-243 p. 597
- Leavy v. Kramer 34 Misc 2d 479 at 480 p. 597
- Lindenman v. Kreitzer 7 AD3d 30 p. 597