Tucson, AZ — September 10, 2026 — Attorneys who take cases on contingency sometimes find themselves stuck: the client will not accept a reasonable settlement, the case is not worth trying, and withdrawal seems impossible without risking a malpractice claim. David J. Leonard is drawing attention to this recurring dilemma and offering guidance for attorneys navigating it.

According to David J. Leonard, the temptation to threaten withdrawal in order to pressure a client into accepting an inadequate settlement is a serious misstep. “The threat of withdrawal is the equivalent of withdrawal. You can’t really take it back, having already demonstrated your lack of faith in the case,” says David J. Leonard, legal malpractice expert witness in Arizona and California. He notes that even a “nice” threat to terminate can later be characterized as abandonment.

David J. Leonard explains that the client, not the attorney, owns the cause of action and holds the final word on any settlement. Attorneys cannot pressure a client into accepting terms simply because continuing the case is no longer in the lawyer’s economic interest. As a respected malpractice expert witness in Arizona, David J. Leonard is frequently retained by law firms to opine on the reasonableness of fees and the propriety of withdrawal in disputes of this kind.

The risk grows especially acute when a retainer agreement includes trial within the scope of representation. Attorneys who file a complaint are, in effect, promising to see the matter through. David J. Leonard, civil litigation expert witness in Arizona and California, notes that non-payment of fees, vague justifications, or a pattern of empty threats can undermine an attorney’s ability to withdraw when the moment arrives.

For attorneys facing these decisions, David J. Leonard offers insight drawn from more than six decades of Arizona legal practice. As a sought-after trial expert witness in Arizona, David J. Leonard continues assisting law firms with contingency fee disputes and withdrawal questions statewide. Attorneys seeking guidance are encouraged to contact David J. Leonard at +1 (520) 622-7737 or visit https://davidjleonardlaw.com/ to learn more.

About David J. Leonard, PLC | Expert Witness in Arizona

Founded in 1964, David J. Leonard, PLC – Expert Witness in Arizona and California, provides expert witness services to attorneys handling legal malpractice, insurance bad faith, and civil litigation matters. The firm is built on the belief that complex legal and factual issues should be explained in language any judge or jury can follow. David J. Leonard continues to accept assignments throughout Arizona and beyond.

 

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Company Name: David J. Leonard, PLC | Expert witness in Arizona
Contact Person: Media Relations
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Phone: +1 (323) 359-0084
Address:5555 Melpomene Way Tucson, AZ 85747
City: Tucson
State: Arizona
Country: United States
Website: https://davidjleonardlaw.com/

 

Press Release Distributed by ABNewswire.com

To view the original version on ABNewswire visit: Top Legal Malpractice Expert Witness in Arizona Advises Attorneys on Risks of Withdrawing from Contingency Cases

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David J. Leonard, PLC | Expert witness in Arizona