Mesothelioma

In the February trial against Tapscott and the firm, the plaintiffs testified that they were happy on June 1, 1999, when Tapscott told them their case had settled for $2.5 million.

But Patria Jacobs testified that Tapscott did not tell her that one of the defendants, Pittsburgh Corning Corp., rescinded its settlement offer of $225,000 a day later.

Patria also testified to the following: Tapscott and Baron & Budd had not consulted with her about Rule 11 agreements the firm had entered into with individual defendants in the case that bound both sides to the settlement.

Instead, Baron & Budd later sent her release forms, which she signed agreeing to specific settlement amounts with individual defendants in exchange for releasing those defendants from further liability.

Baron & Budd did not consult with her about settlement before the firm agreed to the binding Rule 11 agreements.

Patria believed Baron & Budd and Tapscott abused the power-of-attorney agreement she had with the firm by not telling her beforehand about the Rule 11 settlement agreements the firm had entered into with the defendants on her behalf.

That communication was critical - especially after Pitt...

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