Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Apr 10, 2018
Cristian J. Juan and Anthony J. Adewunmi, Appellants, vs. Gary A. Growe and Growe, Eisen & Karlen, LLC, Respondents.
Cristian J. Juan and Anthony J. Adewunmi, former real estate agents, sued their attorney Gary Growe for legal malpractice, alleging his advice on a settlement with the Missouri Real Estate Commission led to their federal criminal charges. Growe's law firm counterclaimed against Adewunmi for unpaid legal fees. The trial court granted summary judgment for Growe on the malpractice claim and for the law firm on the breach of contract claim. The appellate court affirmed, holding that the plaintiffs' legal malpractice claims were barred by collateral estoppel due to their criminal convictions, and that prejudgment interest was properly awarded on the breach of contract claim.