Law Practice
Oct. 29, 2026
Judge allows claims that law firm exploited dying lawyer to proceed
A Los Angeles judge allowed a deceased attorney's estate to pursue conversion, breach of fiduciary duty and punitive damages claims against Carpenter & Zuckerman over allegedly withheld legal fees.
A Los Angeles judge ruled Wednesday that allegations Carpenter & Zuckerman LLP exploited a dying lawyer's terminal illness to withhold more than $630,000 in attorney fees can support conversion and breach of fiduciary duty claims, as well as a demand for punitive damages.
Superior Court Judge Randolph M. Hammock found that the estate of John P. Kristensen, who died of cancer in March, had sufficiently alleged that the firm withheld money belonging to him to gain leverage in...
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