$15.6 Million Verdict in High-Stakes Legal Malpractice Case
In a federal courtroom showdown that highlighted the devastating impact of professional negligence, Attorney Mike Richardson successfully represented Synair Corporation, a Chattanooga-based business, in a legal malpractice suit against the prominent Dallas law firm Bell, Nunnally & Martin LLP. The result was a $15.6 million jury verdict—a powerful affirmation of accountability in the legal profession.
Background
Synair Corporation, a long-established Tennessee company, entered into a significant asset sale with a British corporation, a complex international transaction requiring careful legal oversight. The company relied on Bell, Nunnally & Martin LLP to guide and protect its interests throughout the deal. However, following the transaction, Synair alleged that serious legal missteps and negligence by the Dallas-based law firm caused the company to suffer substantial financial losses.
According to the complaint, Bell, Nunnally had failed to properly structure the agreement and did not secure adequate contractual protections for Synair, leaving the company vulnerable in a deal that ultimately cost them far more than anticipated. What should have been a profitable transaction turned into a major loss—one that Synair claimed was entirely preventable with competent legal counsel.
Pre-Trial & The Stakes
Before trial, the defendant made a pre-trial settlement offer of just $200,000—a sum that didn’t begin to cover the financial harm Synair claimed to have suffered. Refusing to settle for less than what his client truly deserved, Mike Richardson and Synair chose to take the case to federal court, ready to expose the law firm’s errors and fight for justice in front of a jury.
The Trial & Verdict
Over the course of a compelling trial, Mike Richardson presented a clear, meticulously prepared case that demonstrated the depth of the defendant’s negligence and the direct impact on Synair’s financial wellbeing. He unraveled the legal missteps, dissected the transaction details, and gave the jury a full picture of how proper legal representation could have prevented the harm.
The jury agreed.
Their verdict: $15.6 million in damages awarded to Synair Corporation—an emphatic rejection of the defense’s minimal settlement offer and a resounding validation of Mr. Richardson’s trial strategy and advocacy.
Impact and Takeaway
This case stands as a landmark victory in legal malpractice litigation, particularly in the context of complex business transactions involving international entities. It reinforces the critical importance of attorney diligence and the real-world consequences when professionals fail to meet their duty of care.
More than just a financial win, the case reaffirmed the principle that no law firm—regardless of size or reputation—is above accountability. For Mike Richardson and Synair Corporation, it was a hard-fought triumph that restored justice, recovered damages, and sent a powerful message to the legal community.
“When professionals fall short, the consequences are real. Our job is to make sure the people who suffer because of that negligence are made whole,” says Mike Richardson.