Case Citation
Legal Case Name

Roach v. Mead Case Brief

Oregon Supreme Court1986Docket #139557
722 P.2d 1229 301 Or. 383 1986 Ore. LEXIS 1456

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Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis

General Brief
4 min read

tl;dr: A lawyer’s partner was held vicariously liable for the lawyer’s negligent investment advice to a client, as the advice fell within the apparent scope of the law firm’s business. The Unlawful Trade Practices Act did not apply.

Legal Significance: Establishes that a partnership can be liable for a partner’s negligence if a client reasonably believes the partner’s actions are within the ordinary course of the partnership’s business, particularly concerning legal advice.

Roach v. Mead Law School Study Guide

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Case Facts & Court Holding

Key Facts & Case Background

Plaintiff Roach, a client of attorney Mead, sought Mead’s advice regarding the investment of $20,000. Mead, a partner in a law firm with defendant Berentson, advised Roach to lend the money to Mead personally at a 15% interest rate. Roach testified he considered this to be legal advice and trusted Mead to protect his interests. Mead executed a promissory note but failed to secure the loan, advise Roach to seek independent legal counsel, disclose the conflict of interest, warn of the risks of an unsecured loan, or inform Roach that the interest rate was usurious. Mead subsequently borrowed an additional $1,500 under similar circumstances. Mead defaulted on the loans and was later declared bankrupt. Roach had previously used the law firm for various matters, including tax preparation by Berentson. Roach sued Berentson, as Mead’s partner, for vicarious liability due to Mead’s negligence and for violations of Oregon’s Unlawful Trade Practices Act (UTPA). The trial court found for Roach on both claims; the Court of Appeals affirmed the negligence liability but reversed on the UTPA claim.

Court Holding & Legal Precedent

Issue: Is a law partner vicariously liable for another partner’s negligent failure to properly advise a client on the legal implications of a loan made by the client to that partner, when the client reasonably believed such advice was part of the partnership’s business?

Yes, the defendant partner is vicariously liable for his partner’s negligence. The Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do ei

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IRAC Legal Analysis

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Legal Issue

Is a law partner vicariously liable for another partner’s negligent failure to properly advise a client on the legal implications of a loan made by the client to that partner, when the client reasonably believed such advice was part of the partnership’s business?

Conclusion

This case solidifies the principle that a law partnership's liability for a Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate vel

Legal Rule

Under Oregon's Uniform Partnership Law, ORS 68.250 and 68.270, partners are jointly Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deser

Legal Analysis

The Supreme Court of Oregon affirmed the Court of Appeals, holding Berentson Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa

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