A lawsuit was filed in Brooklyn Supreme Court last week by one lawyer against another lawyer, according to the New York Daily News. The two lawyers involved are David Dunn and Bruce Richardson.
Court papers say that Dunn reportedly assaulted Richardson when Dunn attempted to leave a conference room following a ruling issued against him by a referee.
The lawsuit says that Dunn “attempted to climb over” Richardson and “hit him in his face and chest with (his) briefcase.”
The incident occurred on March 6, 2013. Dunn was representing Bank of New York Mellon for the law firm of Hogan Lovells. Dunn was asked to go to a conference room for a foreclosure case.
The referee in the conference room read a five-page ruling that said the firm and the bank acted in bad faith. After the ruling was read, Dunn stormed out of the room, walking over his opponent in the case.
“It was very disrespectful to me,” Richardson said. “This is something that just never happens.”
Court officers were called when Dunn was stopped by a clerk, who said, “I saw what you did.”
Richardson did not press criminal charges because he did not want it to affect the license of Dunn.
Richardson said that the assault worsened his back issues, resulting in the need for surgery one month later. Richardson said that he is suing for unspecified damages in order to recoup lost wages, loss of enjoyment of life and medical expenses.
Dunn told a court officer, “I’m sorry that Mr. Richardson feels like I hit him,”
“These allegations are absolutely without merit,” said Hogan Lovells spokesman Robert Snoddy. “Beyond that we have no further comment.”