CHICAGO–An Antioch man is suing his divorce lawyer, alleging the defendant's incompetence cost the plaintiff $500,000 in an unfair distribution of marital property.
Steven J. Mandell filed a lawsuit Nov. 24 in Cook County Circuit Court against Michael A. Lew and the Law Offices of Michael A. Lew, alleging legal malpractice and breach of contract.
According to the complaint, Lew failed to adequately defend Mandell, neglecting to conduct adequate discovery and cross examination and failing to prepare proper motions in his client’s defense. As a result, the suit says, maintenance support was miscalculated, the value of joint property was underestimated, hearsay testimony was allowed and other errors were committed, costing the plaintiff $30,000 in unpaid rent and hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost lifetime income.
Mandell seeks a jury trial and damages of more than $500,000, plus legal fees. He is represented by attorney Thomas W. Gooch III of Gauthier & Gooch in Waucondal.
Cook County Circuit Court Case number 2015-L063083.