A shocking legal malpractice case has been filed in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, that could have far-reaching implications for the legal community. The plaintiffs, Heather and Jeff Grynka, owners of Element Property Services, Inc., allege severe misconduct by their attorney Aloysius T. Lawn and his firm Lawn & Associates, P.C., in a complaint filed on [specific date not provided].
The lawsuit, initiated by the Grynkas through their counsel Monte J. Rabner from Rabner Law Offices, P.C., accuses Aloysius T. Lawn and his firm of professional negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, and constructive fraud. The Grynkas claim that Lawn's actions during a business deal with Sapphire Steel Inc., a company based in Naples, Florida, led to significant financial losses for them. According to the complaint, Lawn failed to disclose his close personal relationship with Sapphire's owners Anthony and Jillian Sinatra and his financial interest in Sapphire Steel.
The crux of the case lies in a series of agreements made between 2018 and 2022 where the Grynkas extended credit to Sapphire Steel in exchange for shares and profit splits. During these negotiations, Lawn represented both parties without disclosing his conflict of interest. "Defendant Lawn deliberately misrepresented his relationship with Sapphire’s owners to the Plaintiffs as purely one that was business-related," states the complaint. The plaintiffs allege that Lawn drafted agreements favoring Sapphire Steel at their expense and continued to conceal critical information about his ties to the Sinatras.
Moreover, it is alleged that Lawn sent a retroactive "Waiver of Conflicts of Interest Form" only after the initial agreements were signed—an action expressly prohibited by professional conduct rules. The waiver failed to disclose essential details such as Lawn's role as a principal officer in Sapphire Steel and his financial interests therein.
The plaintiffs further accuse Lawn of advising them poorly while simultaneously aiding Sapphire Steel behind their backs during litigation over these agreements. They claim they discovered these conflicts only recently during ongoing litigation against Sapphire Steel in Allegheny County Court.
As a result of these alleged unethical practices, the Grynkas seek judgment exceeding $798,000—the amount they extended to Sapphire Steel under fraudulent pretenses—along with punitive damages for legal fees incurred due to this malpractice.