what happens when a county attorney refuses to appeal it's civil clients adverse ruling

by Mr. Francisco Mohr DVM 8 min read

Even if adverse rulings on privilege are not appealable as of right, they may be appealable by permission. CPLR §5701 (c) provides that an appeal from any Supreme Court or county court order that is not appealable as of right may nevertheless be taken to the Appellate Division “by permission of a judge who made the order granted.”

Full Answer

What happens if the court finds an error in an appeal?

Oct 10, 2019 · When you appeal a civil case, you do not get to re-litigate all of the underlying issues that were presented at the original trial. An appeal is not just a do-over trial where you get to try to convince another judge or jury to find differently. Instead, to prevail in an appeal, you have to argue that there was a legal or a procedural error.

What happens when you appeal a civil case?

Aug 30, 2013 · "Can my attorney refuse to file an appeal if he doesn't "think it will work"? -- Yes! And, in fact, your attorney is obligated not to file documents with the court that do not have a basis in law or fact. An attorney is not indentured servant. I suggest your attorney's take on the issues you mention is substantially more valid than your own.

Can my attorney refuse to file an appeal if he doesn't?

An adverse ruling on your client’s claim of attorney client privilege or your firm’s claim of work product protection can irreparably damage your case. In the courts of New York State, an interlocutory appeal to prevent any damage will often be available under CPLR §5701.

What happens if a party loses in an appeals court?

Broadly speaking, to appeal a civil judgment you need to take the following steps: Step 1: Determine whether you can file an appeal. Step 2: Calculate your time limit to appeal. Step 3: File a notice of appeal and a cost bond. Step 4: Serve the notice of appeal. Step 5: Decide whether to “stay” execution of the judgment.

Can a lawyer refuse to defend a client?

Rule 2.01 - A lawyer shall not reject, except for valid reasons, the cause of the defenseless or the oppressed. Rule 2.02 - In such cases, even if the lawyer does not accept a case, he shall not refuse to render legal advice to the person concerned if only to the extent necessary to safeguard the latter's rights.

What are the four types of prosecutorial misconduct?

Prosecutorial misconduct is when a prosecutor in a criminal court case performs an illegal or unethical act....1. What are the four main types of prosecutorial misconduct?failure to disclose exculpatory evidence,introducing false evidence,using improper arguments, and.discriminating in jury selection.

Under what circumstance may an attorney break attorney client privilege?

What happens when a client breaks the law? Most often, when courts do ask an attorney to break privilege without a client's consent, it's because of a suspicion a crime or fraud that is being committed.Apr 18, 2018

What is unethical for a lawyer?

Attorney misconduct may include: conflict of interest, overbilling, refusing to represent a client for political or professional motives, false or misleading statements, knowingly accepting worthless lawsuits, hiding evidence, abandoning a client, failing to disclose all relevant facts, arguing a position while ...

What are 3 examples of prosecutorial misconduct?

Failing to turn over exculpatory evidence. Tampering with evidence. Knowingly presenting false witness testimony or other false evidence to a court or grand jury. Asking a defendant or defense witness damaging and suggestive questions with no factual basis.

Which is the most common type of prosecutorial misconduct?

suppressionSuppressing or Fabricating Evidence The most common incidence of prosecutorial misconduct involves the suppression or fabrication of exculpatory evidence, or evidence that might lead to the exoneration of the person suspected of the crime.

When can privileged communication be broken?

Some relationships that provide the protection of privileged communication include attorney-client, doctor-patient, priest-parishioner, two spouses, and (in some states) reporter-source. If harm—or the threat of harm—to people is involved, the privileged communication protection disappears.

What is one reason a prosecutor may decide to dismiss a case?

A prosecutor may voluntarily dismiss a case without prejudice in order to file a more or less serious case (as in the previous battery/assault example), to address a weakness or error in some part of the case (such as the evidence), or if they are not ready to go to trial at the date called by the judge.

Which of the following may not be protected under the attorney-client privilege?

Which of the following may not be protected under the attorney-client privilege? A client who orally confesses to a crime. Correct!

What are examples of ethics violations?

Ethics violations such as discrimination, safety violations, poor working conditions and releasing proprietary information are other examples. Situations such as bribery, forgery and theft, while certainly ethically improper, cross over into criminal activity and are often dealt with outside the company.Aug 14, 2015

What is professional misconduct for a lawyer?

The expression professional misconduct in the simple sense means improper conduct. In law profession misconduct means an act done willfully with a wrong intention by the people engaged in the profession. It means any activity or behaviour of an advocate in violation of professional ethics for his selfish ends.

What is unethical behavior examples?

5 Most Common Unethical Behaviors Ethics Resource Center (ERC) SurveyMisuse of company time. Whether it is covering for someone who shows up late or altering a timesheet, misusing company time tops the list. ... Abusive Behavior. ... Employee Theft. ... Lying to employees. ... Violating Company Internet Policies.4 days ago

What happens when an appeals court reverses a trial court decision?

Once an appeals court has made its decision, the opportunity for further appeals is limited. As the number of parties filing appeals has risen substantially, the state and federal court systems have implemented changes in an effort to keep up.

What is an appeal in law?

An appeal is a more scholarly proceeding than a trial. Whereas the litigator must be an active strategist in the courtroom, calling witnesses, cross-examining, and making motions or objections, the appellate lawyer builds his or her case in the brief, before the appeal is heard.

What is the purpose of an appeals court?

Most civil and criminal decisions of a state or federal trial court (as well as administrative decisions by agencies) are subject to review by an appeals court. Whether the appeal concerns a judge's order or a jury's verdict, an appeals court reviews what happened in prior proceedings for any errors of law.

How many judges are there in an appeals court?

How many depends on the jurisdiction. At the initial appeals court level, courts may have from three to a few dozen judges. Yet on the larger courts, the full number of judges seldom hear claims together. Instead, appeals are typically heard by panels, often comprised of three judges.

What is an appellate brief?

Appellate Briefs. The main form of persuasion on appeal is the written appellate brief, filed by counsel for each party. With this brief, the party that lost in the trial court will argue that the trial judge incorrectly applied the law. The party that won below will argue that the trial court's decision was correct.

What is the record of an appeal?

The record contains the pleadings (plaintiff's complaint and defendant's answer), pre-trial motions, a transcript of what occurred during trial, the exhibits put into evidence, post-trial motions, and any discussion with the judge that did not take place "off the record." The success of an appeal therefore depends on what occurred at trial. If an attorney failed to get critical, available evidence into the record, or to object to something prejudicial, the opportunity to do so is lost.

What happens after a court decision?

After Appealing a Court Decision. The party that loses in a state or federal appeals court may appeal to the state Supreme Court or the U.S. Supreme Court. (Most states call their highest court "Supreme Court," though Maryland and New York call theirs the "Court of Appeals.")

Tara Kaylene Millan

Why would you want a lawyer to continue to assist you if s/he does not feel strongly about your appeal? I would definitely suggest you seek out an appellate lawyer who believes in the issues of the possible appeal and one with whom you communicate well...

Terry David Horner

I am not admitted to the federal or state bar in California, but I agree with my colleagues. The answer would be the same in New York, whether in state court or federal. One of the reasons to hire an attorney is to remove from the decision-making process the client's inevitable emotions about the case...

Michael Raymond Daymude

"Can my attorney refuse to file an appeal if he doesn't "think it will work"? -- Yes! And, in fact, your attorney is obligated not to file documents with the court that do not have a basis in law or fact. An attorney is not indentured servant. I suggest your attorney's take on the issues you mention is substantially more valid than your own.

George Chakmakis Jr

You should check the Contingency Fee Agreement with your lawyer. Most say the lawyer is not obligated to file appeals without further financial arrangements. Also, a lawyer should not file motions, appeals, etc. that are frivolous, without a basis in fact and law.

Dabney Finch

Yes. And given your attorney is on contingency, if he thought it would work he would move for reconsideration. I recommend you get a second opinion from another appellate attorney.

What is the interlocutory appeals process in New York?

CPLR §5701 (a) (2) (v) provides that an appeal may be taken to the Appellate Division “as of right” from any order by the supreme court or a county court where the order deciding a motion was made upon notice and the order “affects a substantial right.” This provision has often been invoked to permit parties to bring interlocutory appeals regarding adverse rulings on privilege. In Surgical Design Corp. v. Correa [727 N.Y.S.2d 462 (2d Dept. 2001)], for example, the Second Department granted the plaintiff leave to appeal from the trial court’s ruling that a letter attached to the defendant’s motion papers was not privileged. In Hoopes v. Carota [531 N.Y.S.2d 407 (3d Dept. 1988)], the defendant refused to answer various deposition questions on grounds of privilege, and plaintiff moved to compel. The trial court granted the motion to compel but the defendant appealed the ruling. The plaintiff argued that the ruling was not appealable, but the Third Department (which allowed the appeal on grounds of novelty and importance) said in dicta, “it is highly arguable that an order overruling a claim of statutory privilege ‘affects a substantial right (CPLR 5701 [a] [2] [v]) and is, therefore, directly appealable even in the context of discovery proceedings…’”

What is interlocutory appeal?

Interlocutory appeals in federal courts are a completely different story . In federal courts, jurisdiction over appeals is governed by the nearly ironclad final judgment rule, codified at 28 U.S.C. §1291, which provides that the federal circuit courts of appeal (with some exceptions not relevant here) “shall have jurisdiction of appeals from all final decisions” of federal district courts. In Van Cauwenberghe v. Biard [486 U.S. 517, 521 (1988)], the U.S. Supreme Court explained that for purposes of §1291, a final decision is generally regarded as a decision by the district court that “ends the litigation on the merits and leaves nothing for the court to do but execute the judgment.”

What is collateral order doctrine?

[337 U.S. 541 (1949)], the U.S. Supreme Court recognized an exception to §1291’s final judgment rule. The exception has come to be known as the “collateral order doctrine.” Under the collateral order doctrine, appeal will lie from a “small class” of prejudgment orders that “finally determine claims of right separable from, and collateral to, rights asserted in the action” and that are “too important to be denied review and too independent of the cause itself to require that appellate consideration be deferred until the whole case is adjudicated.”

What is a writ of mandamus?

However, a writ of mandamus may be a way around the final judgment rule when a district court orders a party to turn over documents that the party considers to be privileged. In Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. v. Turner & Newall, PLC [964 F.2d 159 (2d Cir. 1992)], a case in which defendants sought review of a pretrial discovery order regarding allegedly privileged documents, the Second Circuit said: “Unlike other circuits, we have rarely used the extraordinary writ of mandamus to overturn a discovery order involving a claim of privilege.” But, relying on In re von Bulow [828 F.2d 94 (2d Cir. 1987)], the first case in which the Second Circuit had ever issued a writ of mandamus to review a discovery order rejecting a claim of attorney client privilege the court granted the writ in the case before it. Summing up its mandamus doctrine, the Chase Manhattan court said that it would “exercise mandamus review of discovery orders relating to claims of privilege where: (i) an issue of importance and of first impression is raised; (ii) the privilege will be lost in the particular case if review must await a final judgment; and (iii) immediate resolution will avoid the development of discovery practices or doctrine undermining the privilege.”

What is DR 7-106?

Ordinarily, DR 7-106 (A) prohibits a lawyer from disregarding (or advising a client to disregard) a ruling of a tribunal, but the rule adds that the lawyer “may take appropriate steps in good faith to test the validity” of the ruling.

What is an appeal in court?

An “appeal” is a request to have a higher court change or reverse a judgment of a lower court. When you appeal, the entire case is reviewed by a higher court. The appeals court will look at the evidence that was presented to the trial court to decide whether some legal error was made.

How long does it take to appeal a case in the district court?

If your case is in justice court, you typically have twenty days to appeal to the district court. It is important to make sure you are applying the correct appeal time for your type of case and calculating it correctly. Missing your appeal deadline can preclude your appeal.

How long do you have to appeal a judgment in Nevada?

If your case is in district court, both sides normally have thirty days from the written notice of entry of the judgment to appeal to the Nevada Supreme Court. The Nevada Supreme Court has the option of assigning your case to the Nevada Court of Appeals to handle instead.

What is a bond in court?

A “bond” is a guarantee for payment that you obtain from a bonding company for a fee. You can also post the $250 in cash. The $250 cost bond cannot be waived with a fee waiver application. To appeal a district court case, you must file a Notice of Appeal with the district court that heard your case.

How long does it take to file an opening brief?

The appellant must file an opening brief within 120 days after the date that the appeal was docketed in the supreme court. 2. The respondent then has thirty days from the date that the opening brief was served to file an answering brief. 3.

How long does it take to file a notice of appeal?

If the judgment was entered in the justice court, you must typically file your Notice of Appeal (Step 3 below) within twenty days after the date of service of the written notice of entry of the judgment. (JCRCP 72B (a).)

Can you appeal a court order in Nevada?

Not every court order can be appealed. For a list of many of the orders that you can appeal, study Rule 3A (b) of the Nevada Rules of Appellate Procedure (if you are appealing a district court judgment) and Rule 72A of the Justice Court Rules of Civil Procedure (if you are appealing a justice court judgment).

What is the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure?

The Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure recognize the importance of the standard of review, requiring that an appellate brief contain a summary of the argument and , for each issue, a concise statement of the applicable standard of review. Fed.

What does the appellate court do?

Instead, the appellate court has the power to determine for itself the application, interpretation, and construction of a question of law. An appellate court, however, may not retry the evidence or make new determinations of fact in deciding the applicable law.

When does the abuse of discretion standard of review apply?

The abuse of discretion standard of review applies when appellate courts review discretionary rulings by a trial court. A trial court abuses its discretion if its decision rests upon an erroneous conclusion of law, a clearly erroneous finding of material fact, or an improper weighing of the facts and law.

What is an interlocutory order?

However, some orders that appear to end a case are not final judgments but are interlocutory orders; the most common of these are orders granting a demurrer, a motion to dismiss, or summary judgment.

What is Rule 54 B?

The typical Rule 54 (b) situation occurs when the claims against one party are separate and distinct from the claims against another party. Whether to seek a judgment under Rule 54 (b) can be a hard decision. If you are the prevailing party, a judgment forces the losing party to decide promptly whether to appeal.

What is collateral order doctrine?

The collateral order doctrine permits appeal of a small class of rulings that are not final judgments but that conclusively decide the disputed issue, resolve an important issue completely separate from the merits of the action, and are effectively unreviewable, which is key to obtaining review under this theory.

What is the standard of review?

The standard of review is the "legal yardstick" that tells the appellate court how much deference it must give to the trial judge's rulings or the jury's verdict. Many lawyers overlook the applicable standard of review.