Woman sues attorney

Attorney Samantha Lawson was also ordered to pay her former client Eleonore Nollet-Neuhaus’ legal costs after the attorney failed to have the lawsuit struck out. Nollet-Neuhaus took Lawson to court in 2015, for breach of contract and is seeking compensation as well as the return of $390,000 which she said is owed to her.

The attorney was retained to represent Nollet-Neuhaus in her divorce proceedings as well as a land transaction, according to the lawsuit which is being heard by Justice Frank Seepersad.

Nollet-Neuhaus claims Lawson failed to act in her best interest and had a conflict of interest as she also represented the buyer of Nollet-Neuhaus’ property.

Nollet-Neuhaus also alleges that Lawson failed to pay her the deposit paid by the buyer of the property.

Following the filing of the claim, Lawson filed an application seeking to have the case struck out, saying there was no case against her and alleging that Nollet-Neuhaus had filed similar proceedings before the Disciplinary Committee of the Law Association.

Seepersad in an oral ruling on the preliminary application to strike out the case, held that the case should go to trial and Nollet- Neuhaus be afforded the opportunity to ventilate her case at trial. He said the court had to be careful in exercising its discretion to strike out a case and should do so sparingly.

Directions were given for the filing of submissions and the matter was adjourned to April 26.

Attorneys Thomas Cunningham and Stefan Mungalsingh represented Nollet-Neuhaus.