ALBANY, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - A prominent, nationwide law firm is suing a former client, a New York firm, claiming it failed to pay more than $176,000 in legal bills.
Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith filed suit against Lonstein Law Office July 11 in New York federal court. It represented Lonstein in two cases that were initiated for 2016 after being appointed by Lonstein's liability insurance carrier.
But by 2020, the limits of the policy had been met, and Lewis Brisbois asked to withdraw as counsel that August in one case and September in the other. Both motions weren't granted until January 2021.
"During the period of time that Plaintiff's motions to withdraw were pending, Plaintiff continued to provide Defendants, as it had done throughout the course of representation, with periodic monthly invoices and written statements of Plaintiff's services and costs advanced with regard to both actions, as well as a detailed record of the time, rate and description of the legal services performed and expenses incurred during that billing period," the suit says.
Lewis Brisbois billed Lonstein for $176,213.31 but Lonstein did not pay, the suit says. Peter Shapiro at Lewis Brisbois is representing the firm.