Former partner says firm's suit alleging stolen client has 'recklessly false' allegations
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A former Grant & Eisenhofer partner is seeking to toss a lawsuit that claims he stole a whistleblower client when he left the firm.
Reuben Guttman filed a motion last week to dismiss or grant summary judgment in the suit, the Am Law Daily (sub. req.) reports. The Grant & Eisenhofer suit seeks $7 million in damages for costs allegedly advanced in the whistleblower litigation against Celgene Corp., and a share of a $280 million settlement in the case that could give the whistleblower as much as $84 million.
Guttman says Grant & Eisenhofer “is repeating claims aired in previous lawsuits. The allegations serve no purpose other than to damage defendants’ reputation and extort payment far in excess of G&E’s legal entitlement (if any) to its fees and costs,” Guttman’s motion says. “Many of G&E’s factual assertions are recklessly false.”
The whistleblower client “liked and trusted Guttman” and wouldn’t have pursued the case without Guttman as her lawyer, his motion says.
Related article:
ABAJournal.com: “Firm sues former partner alleging theft of clients and diversion of funds”
