Plaintiff’s suit against her former attorney who had represented her in a prior personal injury action was barred by CCP 340.6.  Though plaintiff alleged claims for breach of contract and the like, each depended upon allegations (and ultimately proof) that the attorney had not performed his professional duties in the proper manner.  Professional duties extend beyond giving of legal advice to ancillary tasks, such as in this case, dividing the proceeds of the prior action in accordance, with the representation agreement, subtracting costs and fees before paying the rest to plaintiff.  Unlike Lee v. Hanley (2015) 61 Cal.4th 1225, plaintiff’s conversion claim was also barred by CCP 340.6 since there was no undisputed sum withheld by the attorney.

California Court of Appeal, Second District, Division 8 (Grimes, J.); November 3, 2016 (published December 1, 2016); 2016 WL 7017964