Attorneys, Malpractice, Limitations, Malicious Prosecution Claim Against Lawyer, 1-yr Statute, CCP 340.6

CCP 335.1 and its two-year statute of limitations for malicious prosecution actions applies to a malicious prosecution action against an attorney, at least if brought by a person who is not the attorney’s client or an intended beneficiary of the client.  CCP 340.6 and its one-year limitations provision do not apply to such a claim. Section 340.6 applies only to claims whose merits necessarily depend on proof that an attorney violated a professional obligation in the course of providing professional services.  A malicious prosecution suit by a non-client does not depend on such proof.