Lori Reese-Brown has filed a lawsuit against attorney John E. Cowan, alleging legal malpractice in the San Francisco Superior Court on November 5, 2024. The complaint accuses Cowan of failing to perform his duties competently, leading to significant financial and emotional damages for Reese-Brown.
The case revolves around a civil lawsuit that began on June 16, 2021, when Lori Reese-Brown retained John E. Cowan for legal services. According to the complaint, both parties entered into a written agreement outlining Cowan's obligations. Despite fulfilling her part of the agreement, including paying for services rendered, Reese-Brown claims that Cowan neglected critical aspects of her case. This negligence allegedly included failing to respond to motions by specified dates, resulting in the dismissal of her lawsuit.
Reese-Brown asserts that Cowan's breach of duty caused her substantial financial loss and emotional distress. She is seeking relief through non-binding mediation facilitated by the San Francisco Superior Court’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Program. "Defendant’s breach of duty was the proximate cause of Plaintiff’s damages," states the complaint, which outlines her desire for a fair resolution without further court proceedings.
The plaintiff is requesting an order from the court mandating participation in non-binding mediation through the ADR Program. Additionally, she seeks recovery for financial losses and legal fees incurred due to Cowan's alleged malpractice. The case underscores Reese-Brown's belief that mediation is necessary because of Cowan's reluctance to engage in good-faith settlement discussions as per their Attorney-Client Fee Agreement.
Representing herself in this matter, Lori Reese-Brown has submitted her complaint with detailed allegations against John E. Cowan and is hopeful for a resolution through mediation rather than prolonged litigation.
The attorneys involved include Lori Reese-Brown representing herself as 'In Pro Per,' while no specific defense attorney is mentioned in the filing. The presiding judge or judges have not been named yet as this is an initial filing stage. The case ID assigned to this matter is CGC-24-619520.