Gordon N. Hizey, Appellants v. Timothy W. Carpenter, Respondents

Summary

The court affirmed a defense verdict in a legal-malpractice action arising from an attorney's preparation of agreements for a financially distressed property transaction. It held that professional-conduct rules neither establish civil-liability standards nor constitute evidence of malpractice, and therefore may not be expressly mentioned by experts or included in jury instructions. The court also upheld the rulings concerning the proposed specialist instruction, later evidence, jury comments, damages, contributory negligence, and postverdict motions.