A legal battle is unfolding in Palm Beach County, Florida, where a corporation is accusing its former legal counsel of professional negligence and breach of fiduciary duty. On November 27, 2024, Finer Optics, Inc. filed a complaint against James N. Brown, P.A., alleging that the law firm failed to properly advise them during a critical real estate transaction dispute.

The case revolves around Finer Optics’ attempt to purchase the storefront condominium unit they had been leasing on Clematis Street in West Palm Beach from their landlord, Johnson 330 Holdings, Inc. After the landlord reneged on an agreed sale price and financing terms in June 2021, Finer Optics sought legal advice from James N. Brown, P.A., represented by attorney Guy Quattlebaum. The law firm advised Finer Optics to file a lawsuit for specific performance and breach of contract against the landlord. However, according to the complaint, Quattlebaum did not fully inform Finer Optics about the potential consequences of a letter received under Florida Statute section 57.105—a statute that allows for sanctions if claims are found to be unsupported by material facts or existing law.

Finer Optics claims that Quattlebaum assured them such motions were rarely granted and encouraged them to proceed with their lawsuit. This advice led to a series of missteps in court proceedings, including errors in preparing a motion for summary judgment which ultimately resulted in the court ruling against Finer Optics and granting attorneys’ fees to the landlord as sanctions under section 57.105.