Chicago sounds like a tough town for romance. Check out the first Courtship Connection date that went down in the Windy City. Let’s hope that future dates go better.
Chitown was also the venue for Serafin v. Leighton. In this lawsuit, a lovely young lawyer, Lauren Serafin, sued her handsome ex-fiancé, Sidley Austin associate Robert Leighton, for “breach of promise” to marry. Serafin alleged that Leighton cheated on her during his Las Vegas bachelor party, with a woman named “Danielle,” and then broke off the engagement — saddling Serafin with almost $63,000 in wedding- and honeymoon-related expenses.
We now bring you an update on this saga….
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An alert reader directed our attention to the Serafin v. Leighton docket. The last entry reads as follows: “Order Case Disposed.”
So what happened in the case? Was it dismissed, or settled?
We reached out to the parties. Robert Leighton did not respond. We’re guessing that he’s pretty busy, with his IP litigation work at Sidley and adjunct teaching at his (and Serafin’s) alma mater, Loyola Law School – Chicago.
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Lauren Serafin, an associate at Hennessy & Roach who defends workers’ compensation claims, was more helpful. She put us in touch with her lawyer, Enrico J. Mirabelli, a founding principal of Nadler, Pritikin & Mirabelli, a Chicago family law boutique.
Remember Jay Shepherd’s recent declaration that real lawyers settle cases? That’s what happened here — a perfectly logical outcome, given the crazy (and presumably unwelcome) publicity that a trial would have generated for two lawyers early in their careers.
“The case was voluntarily non-suited after the parties reached a resolution of their issues,” Serafin’s attorney, Enrico J. Mirabelli, told us. “The terms of the settlement are confidential per agreement, but I certainly would not have consented to a resolution that was not to my client’s satisfaction.”
“Some people think that this is an antiquated law,” he added, referring to the “breach of promise” cause of action. “But it serves a purpose, as shown in cases like this one.”
Serafin v. Leighton: Docket [Cook County Circuit Court via Courtlink / Lexis-Nexis]
Earlier: Lawsuit of the Day: Jilted Lawyer Bride Sues Sidley Associate for Wedding Expenses
Courtship Connection Chitown: Nothing To Feel Guilty About