Winston & Strawn claims a clothing retailer’s malpractice suit should be dismissed because the firm represented the store and not its owners, who allege Winston lawyers failed to advise them they would owe certain taxes. Winston was retained to negotiate an early termination and buy-out of high-end retailer Leggiadro’s lease at its former location at 680 Madison Ave., according to Leggiadro v. Winston & Strawn, 154749-2012, filed in the Southern District in June and then transferred to Manhattan Supreme Court (NYLJ, July 10).
The plaintiffs claimed that in negotiating a settlement with the landlord, Winston advised Leggiadro and owners Brooks and Ann Ross that they would owe a federal long-term capital gains tax but failed to advise them of the remaining taxes, such as city tax on business income for Leggiadro and personal income taxes for the owners.
