New York Federal Court Finds It has No Jurisdiction over Connecticut Law Firm
March 27, 2001

In Lombardi v. Sheri Paige, Esq. d/b/a Sheri Paige & Associates (2605/00), the plaintiff (a New York resident) alleged that he retained the defendant, a Connecticut law firm, to represent him concerning an alleged assault that occurred in New York. The law firm terminated its relationship with the plaintiff even before an action was commenced, citing his lack of cooperation in collecting documents necessary to pursue the action. The plaintiff sued the law firm, claiming that it should have commenced an action within the statute of limitations to preserve his rights.

The defendant law firm argued that the overwhelming majority of its work was done in Connecticut, and that it did not have any meaningful contacts with New York, concerning this case or otherwise, to permit the court to exercise personal jurisdiction over it. Judge Richard Casey of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York agreed and granted the defendant's motion to dismiss the complaint.

(Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.)