Akin Gump loses $1.1m negligence suit

Texas firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld has been ordered to pay a former client $1.1m in damages after being found to have been negligent in its representation.

The suit filed by National Development and Research Corporation (NDRC) and its owner Robert Tang did not name any individual lawyers as defendants.

The judgement calls for Akin Gump to pay $922,632 in damages, plus at least $194,738 in interest. Akin Gump had made a counterclaim for $225,688 in outstanding fees and expenses from the original work, which was dismissed.

Dallas firm Shuford & Associates sole practitioner David Shulford represented NDRC.

Akin Gump instructed Carrington Coleman Sloman & Blumenthal partner Chris Scanlan for its defence. Scanlan is reported to have said an appeal is likely.

The suit alleged Akin Gump was negligent in is representation of NDRC in its 1997 claim and counterclaim with Panda Global Energy, resulting in a judgement requiring NDRC to pay $450,000 in legal fees and forfeiting its ability to recover $7.89m in damages.

Akin Gump was unavailable for comment.