PITTSBURGH – A Pittsburgh law firm alleges that one of its longtime commercial clients has breached its contract between the parties after control of the client business changed hands, leaving them in arrears for legal payments of more than $108,000.
Conway Law Group, LLC of Pittsburgh filed suit in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas on March 1 versus Teodori Properties and Teodori Enterprises, L.P. of Washington County and Joseph Teodori, of Mount Lebanon.
“The Teodori business interests involved in this case are the result of the hard work and labor of defendant Joseph’s grandfather and father and other family members. Although other family members should have a financial interest and, on the part of Joseph’s sister Carrie Teodori a management interest, Joseph has usurped total control of both of the entities for his own benefit and gain,” the suit says.
“Conway has performed legal services for the Teodori business enterprises for over 40 years. Hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees have been paid without contest or objection. The arrangement between Conway and the Teodori business enterprises, including up until the very recent time, was that the Teodori business entities, or individual family members, would contact Conway and inform him what services were needed. Conway would thereupon open a separate file, give the file a number for his own accounting purposes, and bill the file at the then existing hourly rate for the services that were performed. Conway would then provide periodic statements of account for each of the separate legal matters. Until the recent time, the Teodori entities paid Conway’s bills in full without objection and with moderate delay.”
The plaintiff’s fee for these services was $250 per hour, an amount known to the defendants, and the suit outlines the specific legal duties performed by the plaintiff for the defendants.
“Conway performed all of the legal services identified on the statements of account for the various legal matters listed herein, from a period of time in early 2018 to early 2021, save for one service in 2012 which had not been paid. All of the services performed by Conway were performed in a skillful, competent, professional manner, and within the standard of practice for attorneys performing those types of services,” the suit states.
“Joseph is liable as the general partner of Properties. Defendants Properties’ and Joseph’s refusal to pay the sums requested constitute a breach of contract and a failure to make payment on account as obligated, for which judgment is sought.”
For two counts of breach of contract, the plaintiff is seeking judgment in its favor and against the defendants for a sum of $108,383, plus interest and any other relief this Honorable Court deems appropriate.
The plaintiff is represented by John E. Quinn of Quinn Logue, in Pittsburgh.
The defendants have not yet obtained legal counsel.
Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas case GD-22-002334
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nick.malfitano@therecordinc.com