SANTA ANA, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - A group of plaintiffs, dissatisfied with their representation in a previous action, have filed a lawsuit against their former lawyer, considered a nationally recognized class action and trial attorney.
Five plaintiffs filed their lawsuit against Little Rock, Arkansas, law firm Poynter Law Group and attorney Scott Poynter in Orange County Superior Court on June 8. Another plaintiff, Michelle Afont, was added in an amended complaint filed Aug. 2.
Poynter filed a removal notice in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Southern Division, Aug. 10.
Poynter argues in the six-page notice that complete diversity exists and the amount in controversy requirement is met.
The plaintiffs, who are from California, Washington State and Virginia, are suing Poynter and his firm for legal malpractice and breach of fiduciary duty.
They contend Poynter failed to “adequately prepare” their case for trial, including preparing expert witnesses, and therefore “compromised” their case.
They also allege he breached his fiduciary duty by failing to properly counsel and advise the plaintiffs, by “generally mishandling” the case, and by failing to manage the litigation in a “prudent manner.”
The plaintiffs were plaintiffs in a case against Twin Hill Acquisition Company Inc., which was filed in Orange County Superior Court in January 2013.
Twin Hill is part of a global corporate apparel group that provides corporate clothing apparel and workwear to customer workforces. The company was founded in 1997 and is based in Houston, Texas.
Poynter, who is representing himself in the lawsuit, could not immediately be reached for comment.
Judge James V. Selna of the Central District of California is overseeing the case, according to the docket.
From Legal Newsline: Reach Jessica Karmasek by email at jessica@legalnewsline.com.