Tag Archives: breach of duty
Who is Entitled to Receive Official Notices From a Trust?
WHEN MUST NOTICES BE SERVED ON THE DECEASED SETTLOR’S HEIRS? Official statutory notifications must be served (in most cases, by mail or registered mail) on the heirs of the deceased settlor of a trust when the settlor’s living trust becomes irrevocable (a) the death of a settlor of the trust or (b) the trust… Read More »
Who Can be Sued for Breach of Fiduciary Duty?
Someone who owes, and breaches, a fiduciary duty in a manner that causes injury to the beneficiary.* *As long as the legal elements of the claim are met. BREACH OF FIDUCIARY DUTY IS A TORT IN CALIFORNIA Under California law, breach of a fiduciary duty is a tort (a civil wrong). When the required… Read More »
When Has a Lawyer Breached His or Her Legal Duty of Care?
HOW DOES BREACH OF DUTY RELATE TO LEGAL MALPRACTICE? Legal malpractice (also called professional negligence) involves a lawyer’s breach (violation) of a legally mandated duty of care. Specifically, a breach of the professional standard of care that is applicable to the relevant situation. When evaluating a lawyer’s potential breach of duty, the issue is whether the… Read More »
Breach of Duty: Violating the Standard of Care
NEGLIGENCE OCCURS WHEN A BREACH OF DUTY CAUSES INJURY. The existence of a duty, without more, does not create negligence liability. However, when a person violates a legally-recognized duty of care, and that breach of duty causes injury (or damage) to a person or property, negligence liability may result. WHEN HAS A PERSON BREACHED… Read More »
Proving Breach of a Property Owner’s Duty
HOW DOES NEGLIGENCE RELATE TO PREMISES LIABILITY? Premises liability is a form of negligence, which means the plaintiff (usually, the injured party or someone suing on his or her behalf) must prove the elements of negligence in order to prevail. The elements of a claim for negligence are: 1. The existence of a legally… Read More »
When Has a Lawyer Breached a Professional Duty to a Client?
To prevail in a legal malpractice claim, a plaintiff must not only prove that the defendant attorney owed the plaintiff a legal duty, but also that the lawyer behaved in a way that constitutes a legally-recognized breach of that duty. The plaintiff is usually a former client, but also may be a non-client to… Read More »
