Wegman Partners LLC, a legal recruiter with offices in Dallas, Austin, Houston and Atlanta, filed a breach of contract suit on Jan. 9 against The Hopp Law Firm , alleging the firm owes it $48,000 in placement fees for three lawyers. Wegman Partners alleges in its petition that it entered into an agreement on Jan. 10, 2011, with The Hopp Law Firm, which has 10 offices, including one in Dallas, to “locate and recommend to Defendant potential attorneys for employment with Defendant.” In the petition, filed in Dallas County’s 101st District Court, the recruiter alleges the law firm agreed to pay $18,000 per candidate hired. Wegman Partners alleges that on three separate occasions, it “located, recommended and ultimately placed” attorneys at the firm, but the firm paid only $6,000 toward one placement. In Wegman Partners LLC v. The Hopp Law Firm LLC , the plaintiff brings a breach of contract claim against the law firm and seeks a minimum of $48,000 in actual damages, attorneys’ fees, and costs and interest. Robert Hopp of Denver, the firm’s chief executive officer, did not return two telephone messages left on his cell phone. Colby Wegman, president of Wegman Partners, says his company has never before sued over a placement fee. “This is new territory for us. I hate to have to do it, but we perform a service the right way,” he says. The Hopp Law Firm is no longer a client, Wegman says.
5th Circuit Slot to Open
President Barack Obama has another opportunity to nominate a Texan for the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals now that Judge Emilio Garza has announced he will take senior status as of Aug. 1. Garza, nominated by then-President George H.W. Bush, has served on the 5th Circuit since 1991. He did not return a call seeking comment. Kyle Boudreau, a 5th Circuit spokesman, says Garza sent a letter to the White House on Jan. 1 notifying Obama of his plan to take senior status. But Garza of San Antonio isn’t the only 5th Circuit judge taking senior status this year. Judge Fortunato “Pete” Benavides of Austin will take senior status next month.
