Former client Todd Kurtin filed the claim earlier this month in Los Angeles Superior Court. Kurtin accuses Quinn Emanuel of negligence for failing to advise him of “the meaning and ramifications of all terms of the settlement agreement” he reached with a former business partner, Bruce Elieff.
Under the 2005 settlement, Kurtin was to receive his payout in four installments, but, according to the complaint, wound up getting only two payments and is still owed nearly $23 million.
Kurtin is pursuing claims against Elieff for reneging on the settlement agreement.
Quinn Emanuel has received $12 million in fees for representing Kurtin over a four month period. A contingency agreement guaranteed to Quinn Emanuel half of any amount recovered, up to $20 million and 20 percent thereafter. That amount is equal to what Kurtin himself has gotten to date from the settlement.
Paul Kennerson, an attorney at San Diego’s Kennerson & Grant, is representing Kurtin in the malpractice claim.
Earlier this year, firm cofounder and managing partner John Quinn won a jury decision establishing Mattel’s rights to the Bratz line of skanky dolls for young girls, which was brought to market by another toy company.