Spence v. Hilliard
Court of Appeals of Georgia
181 Ga. App. 767 (1987)
Relevant factsFree
Hilliard and other attorneys (defendants) failed to timely assert Spence's (plaintiff) compulsory counterclaim against his tenant, instead improperly filing it as a separate suit that was dismissed; Spence sued for legal malpractice seeking over $59,000, and the trial court directed a verdict for the defendants on the ground Spence failed to prove actual damages or the tenant's judgment would have been collectible.
IssueFree
Whether a plaintiff is entitled to seek nominal damages in a legal-malpractice action even if he has no actual damages, provided that he carries the burden of proving he was wronged.