DIKEMAN v. MARY A. STEARNS, P.C., 253 Ga. App. 646

Summary

The client paid only a portion of the legal invoices of the law firm that represented her in a divorce action. When the law firm sued to recover the outstanding fees, the client contended the invoices were inflated and counterclaimed under federal and Georgia RICO law. The client moved to compel discovery on other clients of the law firm. The law firm moved for summary judgment on the client's RICO counterclaim. On appeal, the appellate court discerned no abuse of discretion in the trial court's finding that the client's discovery requests were overbroad, oppressive, annoying, and required undue burden and expense. In addition, the appellate court discerned no abuse of discretion in the trial court's finding that the requests invaded privacy expectations of the law firm's other clients. Further, the appellate court determined the client's admission that she had no evidence of two predicate acts was a fatal defect under federal or Georgia RICO law. Finally, the appellate court advised ...