Costello v. Hardy

Summary

The court affirmed summary judgment dismissing the legal-malpractice claim because the plaintiff could not produce evidence of loss after obtaining the claimed annual stipend through settlement. It reversed the defamation damages award because the malpractice allegations were defamatory but not defamatory per se, and the defendants failed to prove that the plaintiff acted with the malice or fault required for liability. The court otherwise affirmed the lower-court judgments.