Law firm breakup heads to court
The breakup of a long-time local law firm has resulted in litigation that pits the father, Patrick Derrico, against his son, Jeffrey.
Attorney William E. Speakman filed two suits in Washington County Court Thursday on behalf of Patrick Derrico.
One suit is related to the possession and control of the firm’s financial records. A letter from Jeffrey Derrico included as an exhibit states the partnership of Greenlee, Derrico and Posa “will cease to exist” as of today, asks the father to surrender his key to the building at 60 E. Beau St., and states he will not be an attorney for the new law firm. The letter says current clients will become clients of the new law firm after July 1 and refers to his father experiencing “age-related problems.”
Court documents peg Patrick Derrico’s ownership of the firm at 25 percent and Jeffrey Derrico’s ownership at 50 percent. The owner of the remainder is not identified.
In the other suit Speakman filed, Patrick Derrico, 90, claims interference in a doctor-patient relationship and demands a jury trial and compensatory damages in excess of $50,000 and punitive damages.
The firm’s roots go back a long way. The 1964 edition of R.L. Polk’s Washington City Directory shows Greenlee, Richman, Derrico and Posa having offices in Washington Trust Building. The Lawyers.com website lists Patrick Derrico as a licensed attorney in Washington since 1953 after graduating with a law degree the previous year from the University of Virginia. Father and son are Canonsburg residents.