A federal judge has denied a motion to remand a legal malpractice case against Morgan & Morgan, ensuring the matter remains in federal court rather than being returned to state jurisdiction. The decision comes after the plaintiff, Brandon Walker, was unable to demonstrate that more than two-thirds of the proposed class members were citizens of Georgia, thus failing to meet the requirements for the “local controversy exception” under the Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA).
The presiding judge, Lisa Godbey Wood of the US District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, highlighted this deficiency in Walker’s argument, stressing the need for compliance with CAFA’s stipulations in order for the case to be heard in state court. This ruling follows a prior decision by Judge Wood last October to move the proposed class action to arbitration, rather than keep it within the court system.
The case revolves around allegations of legal malpractice against the prominent personal injury law firm Morgan & Morgan, which touts itself as America’s largest injury law firm. For more details on the legal intricacies and implications of this case, you can read the full report on Bloomberg Law.