Jones, Bell, Abbott, Fleming & Fitzgerald v. Becerra CA2/8

FACTS

Cross-defendant and appellant Joseph Becerra, a lawyer, left a partnership at a law firm, cross-complainant respondent Jones, Bell, Abbott, Fleming & Fitzgerald LLP (hereafter Jones or the Jones firm). Becerra subsequently filed a complaint for damages and an accounting against his former firm and its individual partners. Becerra’s main claim is that the Jones firm owes him attorney’s fees that it has received as a result of client development and legal work he did while affiliated with the firm. In a recent opinion, we addressed rulings on an anti-SLAPP motion by the Jones firm challenging two of Becerra’s nine causes of action. (Becerra v. Jones, Bell, Abbott, Fleming & Fitzgerald LLP (Feb. 27, 2015, B251189 [nonpub. opn.].) Jones filed a first amended cross-complaint (FACC) against Becerra in the action noted above. The FACC alleged eight causes of action against its former partner, listed respectively: breach of fiduciary duty; constructive trust over money received – unjust enrichment; conversion; money had and received; intentional interference with contractual relationship; violation of the Unfair Competition Law (Bus. & Prof. Code, § 17200); breach of contract; and…