In a published decision, the 2nd District Court of Appeal upheld the grant of a motion for summary judgment, dismissing a legal malpractice case brought by a former client against her lawyers. She had rejected a settlement offer in a "putative spouse" family law case, after her lawyers had "strongly" advised her to take the settlement due to low chances of her prevailing. She told her lawyers to stop working on the settlement agreement, fired them and hired other counsel. Her

One of the essential principals taught to all mediators and negotiators is BATNA, which means "Best Alternative to Negotiated Agreement". In some cases one side or the other makes outrageous demands or offers and refuses to move much off of them. Such posturing makes it easy to say that litigation is the "best alternative" to settlement. Fortunately, most cases do settle at mediation, or soon thereafter. But the getting there may have some uphill moments despite, relativel