Jenner & Block, along with Smith LaCien, faces allegations from Kenyan firm Arwa & Change Advocates concerning the poaching of a plaintiff in a wrongful death suit tied to the 2019 crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302. According to the complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Arwa & Change claims it was owed 14% of a $6 million settlement, but Smith LaCien retained the entire $1.6 million, leaving Arwa uncompensated for over 2,470 billable hours.
The Boeing 737 plane crash killed all 157 passengers, including Florence Wangari Yongi, the daughter of plaintiff Francis Yongi Muturi. Muturi’s lawsuit against Boeing settled by November 2023. Arwa alleges that Jenner & Block and Smith LaCien interfered with its attorney-client relationship by persuading Muturi to discharge them as counsel. The conversation leading to the switch reportedly included false information about fee arrangements. However, Smith LaCien’s founding partner, Brian LaCien, contends that the claims are “entirely without merit,” stating that Arwa was terminated by the client years ago.
Arwa entered into an agreement with the then Power Rogers & Smith in June 2019, later succeeded by Smith LaCien, to facilitate the lawsuit against Boeing’s Chicago headquarters. This agreement was modified in 2020 as firm changes occurred. Arwa alleges said modification was performed with Jenner & Block’s involvement, leading to fiduciary breaches and economic interference. The case documentation is available here.
For further context, the full article can be read on Bloomberg Law.