Woman claims legal malpractice in St. Clair County suit

A St. Clair County attorney and his law firm are accused of malpractice for allegedly failing to represent a client well.

Stacey Taylor filed a lawsuit Oct. 12 against Stephen Koenig, William Green, Eric Abramson and the Green Law Firm in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

According to the complaint, Taylor hired attorneys from the Green Law Firm in St. Louis to provide legal services in a personal injury claim against the JC Penney Corporation. Taylor says a mandatory arbitration hearing in this lawsuit was scheduled for Aug. 13. However, the attorneys allegedly failed to show up and advised Taylor to not appear either.

Taylor claims her attorneys filed a motion to dismiss or transfer the hearing on the afternoon it was scheduled. Because of the failure to appear, Taylor alleges, a judgment was entered in favor of JC Penney. She also contends the attorneys did not file a rejection of the judgment and then failed to appear at a hearing to enter the arbitration award that was set for Sept. 27.

Taylor is suing the attorneys and their law firm for negligence and malpractice. She asks for more than $200,000 in damages and court costs. Taylor is represented by attorney Jarrod P. Beasley of Belleville.

St. Clair County Circuit Court Case No. 12-L-546