Legal Malpractice, Negligence, & Patent

Khashayar Law Group secured a $61.5 million jury verdict in a complex legal malpractice and patent negligence case against a multi-billion dollar insurance company after a four-week trial — one of the largest legal malpractice verdicts in California history and a result that has earned our team national recognition among San Diego trial attorneys.

Our client and HBA Medical Group, Inc. filed a lawsuit against attorney Neil K. Nydegger and his law firm, Nydegger & Associates, for legal malpractice and breach of fiduciary duty. The plaintiffs had retained the defendants to prosecute and maintain U.S. Patent No. 6,530,905 — related to a self-sheathing needle for dental use — along with corresponding foreign patents. Despite our client and HBA's prompt payments for maintenance fees, Nydegger and his firm negligently failed to pay these fees, leading to the patent's expiration.

The defendants' actions resulted in significant losses for the plaintiffs, including the termination of a valuable licensing agreement with Nipro Corp., which was worth over $1,000,000 and promised ongoing royalties. The plaintiffs incurred substantial investments in the development and commercialization of the patented technology. They also alleged over-billing and mishandling of funds by the defendants, compounded by a lack of communication about the status of the patents and crucial deadlines. These failures culminated in the plaintiffs' inability to capitalize on their patents and forced them to seek redress through the courts for damages — including lost profits, development costs, legal fees, and further consequential losses.

After a four-week trial, the jury found the defendants negligent and returned a verdict of $61,587,000 in favor of our client. The case has been featured in Jury Verdict Alert: Asbaghi v. Nydeggar — $61.5M legal malpractice verdict.

Khashayar Law Group handles complex legal malpractice, patent negligence, professional negligence, and high-stakes business litigation across San Diego and California. If your attorney's negligence has caused you significant financial harm, contact our San Diego trial attorneys for a free consultation.