A Madison County woman is suing attorneys Bridget Todd and Richie Roberts for legal malpractice after her divorce was thrown out because a required form was not filed. Ms. Todd achieved prominence for representing 14 year-old Carly Gregg in her murder trial.
AC filed for divorce from her husband, CC, in October 2018 in Madison County Chancery Court. The wife retained Richie Roberts and Bridget Todd to handle her divorce. Ms. Todd worked for Roberts' firm. Litigation soon commenced. The couple agreed in 2020 to "consent to a judgment of irreconcilable differences" while allowing the Court to resolve the few unresolved issues.
Ms. Todd allegedly sent her client a form, Consent of Judgement of Divorce on Grounds of Irreconcilable Differences, on March 23, 2020. Section 93-5-2(3) requires parties seeking an "I.D. Divorce" to consent in writing to the Court. AC signed the form and returned it to her lawyer.
AC allegedly emailed Ms. Todd later that day and asked if her husband agreed to sign the form. Ms. Todd replied in the affirmative. However, the form with his signature was never submitted to the Court.
The divorce proceeded as if the form had been filed as AC and CC filed a joint motion to withdraw the divorce on fault grounds and proceed as an I.D. divorce. Since there were unresolved issues, discovery continued on those issues and a trial was held in December 2020.Three years later (Good job, Chancellor), the Court finally rendered a judgement in AC's favor. The Court ordered CC to pay child support of $2,000 per month, half of the private school tuition, $100,000 lump sum payment, and half the equity in the marital home when sold. Case closed, right? Wrong.
CC filed a motion to vacate the judgment in March 2024, arguing the Chancellor lacked subject matter jurisdiction since the consent form was never submitted to the court. The complaint claims:
Defendant Todd assured AC that the lack of a formal written stipulation was not an issue because there were other pleadings and writings that were sufficient. 26. Neither Defendant Todd nor Defendant Roberts advised AC of this fatal flaw until the morning of the hearing on CC's motion.
The news got worse for AC:
AC claimed she and her family suffered: In addition to the financial burden the Defendants’ malpractice has caused Plaintiffs to suffer, the Defendants’ malpractice and continued delay in ending her marriage has caused Plaintiff and her children significant mental and emotional distress, including but not limited to, continued threats and abuse by her husband, worry, stress, sleeplessness, anxiety, and an inability to concentrate. Defendant Todd conceded in open court that the consent required by §93-5-2(3) was never filed and that the court lacked subject matter jurisdiction.
April 1 turned into April Fool's Day for AC as she was made to look like a fool when the Court dissolved the divorce.
The vacation of the judgment took place six years after AC filed for divorce and allegedly spent $200,000 in legal fees. Financially exhausted, AC agreed to a settlement with undisclosed terms. A divorce was finally entered on November 1, 2024.
AC sued Ms. Todd, Mr. Roberts, and the Roberts, Bridges, & Boydston, PLLC in Madison County Circuit Court on Valentine's Day.
The complaint charges defendants Todd and Roberts with legal malpractice - negligence and breach of fiduciary duty. AC argues she spent a large sum of money going to trial even though her lawyer knew she had not submitted the proper form to the Court.
AC seeks damages for all unnecessary legal fees, costs of repair of marital residence, lost tuition payments for child's private school education, attorney's fees, and any other relief.
Attorney Walter "Bubba" Morrison represents the plaintiff. Madison County Circuit Judge Steve Ratcliff presides over the case.
Ms. Todd is now practicing law in Utah.
Kingfish note: Update on Carly Gregg case. Gregg's attorney, Kevin Camp, filed an appeal with the Mississippi Supreme Court. However, Ms. Todd has not entered an appearance. Oddly enough, Gregg's grandfather filed a bar complaint against Rankin County prosecutor Kathryn Newman.
21 comments:
$200,000 !!!!!
First---3 years later? Are you kidding me? That's dumbfounding on its own. Second-filed for divorce in 2018 and, SIX years later, gets the divorce granted. This is absurd. Good on her for filing suit against her lawyers. One thing that catches my eye--husband filed motion to vacate judgement because no form. So, out of the blue, 6 years later, and he files this motion?
Kingfish note: complaint against Newman? Folks be nuts.
Bridget Todd has left Mississippi and has moved to Utah. Don’t know why.
I would have had their asses in a sling way before 3 years and $200,000.
the real victim is Carly Gregg.
Heather Abby was CC’s counsel through trial and continuing until her death, which provides some additional explanation for this unfortunate set of circumstances.
Todd is now an associate at Dewey, Cheatem, and Howe, LLP
Shakespeare proven right again.
"Defendant Todd conceded in open court that the consent required by §93-5-2(3) was never filed and that the court lacked subject matter jurisdiction."
That, to me, is the malpractice. Surely CC waived the objection to jurisdiction by going to trial on the remaining issues.
Plus a rule 60(b) motion for relief from judgment must be brought in a "reasonable" amount of time, so that was surely untimely, when it was brought four years later.
We know Bridgette Todd is a crackpot, but where was Richie Roberts when this went down?
I agree. Carly Gregg deserved competent representation at her trial, and she simply did not get it.
A party can't waive lack of subject matter jurisdiction as a defense to anything.
Whenever I hear about some lawyer, on lawyer crime, going down, it makes me feel just like James Brown.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5TqIdff_DQ
Mayor Bubba for the win. Love it when an elected official practices on the side
Attorneys for divorce try their very best to obtain as many hours as possible. They’re like the media. They make more money when emotions drag things out. People who are considering divorce, you’ll wake up more often with more money, if you can just agree to disagree and move on. If you’re being abused, just start over. Incompetent lawyers are usually the ones who think they know everything. Leeches on Broadway.
I forsee that bar complaint being file in cabinet 13.
Divorce attorneys are the biggest scams out there, especially if they are 5'2" with a bowtie.
It may be Sue, Grabbit and Runne.
You sure it isn't Dewey, Hurnhim, and Howe?
Looks like I stand corrected. The statute, 93-5-2(3), requires strict compliance, according to Reno v. Reno, 119 So. 3d 1154 (Miss. Ct. App. 2013).
-1:06
Todd is a joke.
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