Court reverses $2.7 million award against lawyer

The Georgia Supreme Court has reversed a $2.7 million legal malpractice award in favor of Mary Johnson, a pediatric neurosurgeon, against her former lawyer, Steven Leibel of Dahlonega.

In 1996, Johnson sued her employer, Scottish Rite Hospital, for age and gender discrimination. After a federal judge threw out her case, her appeal was dismissed because Leibel filed it too late. Johnson sued Leibel and prevailed at trial, but the state Supreme Court reversed that verdict, finding the trial judge allowed inadmissible expert testimony on Johnson's behalf.