Md. Builder Loses 3rd Legal-Fees Suit; Latest Counsel Collected in Advance
In 2007, attorney Terrence McAndrews agreed to defend Maryland homebuilder Vincent Serio in a lawsuit claiming Serio failed to pay legal fees.
Since then, the tables have turned: This week, a Howard County District Court judge ordered Serio to pay McAndrews $10,000 in attorney fees in new litigation alleging that the builder didn’t pay his legal bills in the case in which he was represented by McAndrews, either, the Daily Record reports
The judgment also included $3,333 in additional legal fees for attorney Christopher Young, who represented McAndrews in the case, and $2,670 in interest.
Serio contended that he had paid cash to McAndrews, a solo practitioner in Ellicott City, according to Young. However, the receipts Serio presented to prove payment were not persuasive, Young tells the publication.
It was the third time in five months that Serio has been ordered to ante up concerning legal bills of former counsel. The two previous judgments were for $44,000 and $18,000.
Attorney Sung Chun, who represented Serio, apparently didn’t comment to the Daily Record concerning the receipts issue. He says his client hasn’t yet decided whether to appeal the $10,000 legal fees judgment, too, as he has done concerning the two previous legal fees awards.
Asked whether he is worried about collecting from Serio for his own legal work on the McAndrews case, Chun said he was paid in advance: “I collected 100 percent retainer on this case,” he told the Daily Record in an e-mail.
Additional coverage:
Daily Record (January 2009): “Baltimore County Circuit Court hears 2nd fee suit against [homebuilder]”
