Hamilton v. Sommers

[¶ 1.] Roger Hamilton appeals summary judgment dismissing his claims of legal negligence or malpractice and breach of fiduciary duty brought against his former attorneys. We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand.

Background

[¶ 2.] This case began as a dispute related to 112 bee sites located in Marshall, Roberts, and Day counties in northeast South Dakota. In order to place bee hives onto private property, the hive owner must secure written permission from the landowner and file the permission slip with the South Dakota Department of Agriculture (Department). Here, the 112 sites were previously registered to James Paysen. Paysen sold the 112 sites in the mid-1990s to John Kelley; but significantly, Kelley did not register them.1 In 2006, Kelley sold the 112 sites to Adee Honey Farms, which was owned by Richard Adee.

[¶ 3.] Around the same time as Adee’s purchase, plaintiff/appellant Roger Hamilton, a local beekeeper, learned that Kelley was “going under.” Hamilton obtained an “abandonment map” from another local beekeeper (Mike Block) to determine what sites may be available. Block also prepared and gave Hamilton a revocation form used to revoke a landowner’s permission. Using the map, revocation forms, and new permission forms, Hamilton acquired 10 bee sites formerly registered to Paysen on which Adee had unregistered hives. Block, along with another regional beekeeper (Monte Amman), acquired the other 102 sites. Hamilton and Block drove together to Pierre to register their permission forms with the Department.

[¶ 4.] Claiming the 112 sites as his own, Adee petitioned for an administrative hearing seeking to have the sites registered in his name. The hearing occurred on May 15, 2007. Hamilton, Block, and Amman prevailed; thus, the Office of Hearing Examiners found Hamilton had properly registered his 10 bee sites.

[¶ 5.] Following the administrative hearing, Adee sued Hamilton, Block, and Amman on August 25, 2007, jointly and severally, for interference with business relations and/or expectancy, unfair competition, and civil conspiracy (Underlying Lawsuit). Seeking representation, Hamilton, Block, and Amman met with attorneys Richard Sommers and Melissa Neville of Bantz, Gosch & Cremer, L.L.C. (collectively “Appellees”) on September 27, 2007, in Aberdeen, South Dakota.

[¶ 6.] At the meeting, Appellees discussed the potential conflict of interest that could occur when representing all three defendants. Appellees asked whether Hamilton, Block, or Amman had insurance coverage that would compel the insurance carriers to respond to Adee’s suit. Block and Amman replied affirmatively. Appellees wrote a demand letter to Block and Amman’s carrier requesting that the insurance company defend the lawsuit, which the carrier declined. Hamilton allegedly said he did not have insurance;2 Appellees did not inquire any further. In hindsight, Hamilton did, in fact, have insurance in that regard. At the meeting’s *859conclusion, Hamilton, Block, and Amman orally agreed to Appellees’ representation.

[¶ 7.] On October 3, 2007, Appellees sent a letter to Hamilton, Block, and Amman confirming the joint representation and enclosing a conflict of interest waiver. Block and Amman signed and returned the waiver; Hamilton claims he never received, signed, or returned the waiver.

[¶ 8.] On July 7, 2009, Adee offered to settle solely with Amman if Amman transferred his bee sites to Adee and testified against Hamilton and Block in the Underlying Lawsuit. Appellees informed Hamilton, Block, and Amman of the settlement offer. Amman stated that he could not settle because, unbeknownst to Hamilton, Block, and Appellees, he had sold his business “including bee hive locations” on January 5, 2009, to Whetstone Valley Honey, Inc. (Whetstone). Amman’s sale undercut the defense’s theory that Adee had no legally protected interest in the bee sites because the permissive use was revocable at any time and, thus, the bee sites could not be sold. Additionally, the sale valued each bee site at approximately $5,000; allowing Adee to precisely state his alleged damages. Surprised by the sale, Appel-lees explained to the defendants that it was a major problem for their defense.

[¶ 9.] The next week on July 13, 2009, Judge John Flemmer held a pre-trial conference in the Underlying Lawsuit. There, Judge Flemmer denied Appellees’ motions to exclude evidence of Amman’s sale and for a continuance to add witnesses who could explain the sale. During the conference, Appellees recognized there may be a conflict of interest between defendants if evidence of the sale was presented stating: “there may be an irretrievable conflict now between Mr. Amman and the other two Defendants.”3

[¶ 10.] After the pre-trial conference, Appellees raised the possibility of settling. Adee’s demand was a settlement with all defendants or none. Hamilton expressed reservations about settling, but, eventually; Hamilton, Block, and Amman signed a settlement agreement on July 17, 2009. Under the settlement terms, Hamilton, Block, Amman, and Whetstone agreed to transfer their interests in the bee sites to Adee and to send landowners letters requesting they register their sites with Adee. Additionally, Hamilton, Block, and Amman agreed to pay Adee $7,500 for honey delivery to the bee sites’ landowners for the 2009 season.

[¶ 11.] After the settlement, Hamilton hired a new attorney (John Wiles) and advised Appellees that he did not intend to comply with the agreement. Block also hired new counsel (Lee Schoenbeck) and refused to comply with the agreement. Adee moved to enforce the agreement, and during a hearing, Judge Flemmer rejected Hamilton and Block’s argument that the settlement was unenforceable because of duress or fraud. As part of the court’s findings of fact, Judge Flemmer specifically found that Hamilton had signed the conflict waiver form that Appellees claim they mailed to him. Hamilton did not appeal Judge Flemmer’s decision.

[¶ 12.] On September 29, 2010, Hamilton sued Appellees asserting three causes of action: legal malpractice, breach of fiduciary duty, and negligent infliction of emotional distress, all based on an alleged conflict of interest relating to Appellees’ representation of co-defendants Hamilton, Block, and Amman in the Underlying Law*860suit. On May 31, 2012, Hamilton amended his complaint adding an allegation of legal malpractice for Appellees’ alleged failure to properly investigate whether Hamilton had applicable insurance coverage.

[¶ 13.] During discovery, Hamilton retained David Lillehaug, then a partner at a Minneapolis law firm, as an expert witness.4 As to the conflict of interest claim, Lillehaug opined that the seriousness of the conflict between Hamilton, Block, and Amman made the conflict of interest non-consentable, and, even if it were consenta-ble, Appellees breached the standard of care by failing to obtain informed consent from Hamilton. Also, Lillehaug opined that Appellees breached the standard of care by failing to withdraw or move for continuance when Adee offered to settle with only one defendant (Amman) when Amman’s sale came to light. Lillehaug based his conflict of interest opinion on his practice under the Model Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 1.7, and in his interpretation, its similarity with ■ South Dakota’s Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 1.7. Lillehaug testified, in his opinion, that “the standard of care with respect to conflict of interest ... is essentially a national standard of care and that there is nothing unique about South Dakota in that regard.” As to the insurance investigation claim, Lillehaug opined that Hamilton’s statements that he had no insurance “warranted] further inquiry and investigation.” Lillehaug based his insurance investigation opinion on his career experience, which occurred almost entirely in Minnesota, and on information from other attorneys, including two attorneys licensed to practice in South Dakota (one based in Washington, D.C.).

[¶ 14.] Appellees moved to strike Line-hang’s opinions asserting he applied the wrong standard of care to both the conflicted representation and insurance investigation claims. Appellees also moved for summary judgment asserting Hamilton’s failure to meet his initial burden of presenting evidence to support his claims. Hamilton agreed to dismiss his negligent infliction of emotional distress claim.

[¶ 15.] On April 15, 2013, the circuit court, Judge Gene Paul Kean presiding, granted Appellee’s motion to strike, stafl ing, Lillehaug “lacked adequate foundation to testify about the applicable standard of conduct” and his expert testimony would be “irrelevant, unhelpful to the jury, and confusing to the jury because his opinions [were] based upon a national standard of conduct[J” The circuit court also granted Appellees’ motion for summary judgment. On the conflicted representation claim, the court found Hamilton failed to provide sufficient evidence of proximate cause and damages arising from the settlement. On both the conflicted representation and insurance investigation claim, the court found Hamilton failed to provide sufficient evidence of a breach of the standard of care because Hamilton failed to provide admissible expert testimony. The circuit court found that even if the expert testimony was admissible, Hamilton failed to provide admissible expert testimony that Appellees violated the standard of care applicable to attorneys in the same or similar locality as Roberts County, which the court determined to be a South Dakota statewide standard of conduct.

[¶ 16.] Hamilton timely appeals, raising the following issues: (1) whether the circuit court erred in striking Lillehaug’s expert opinion; (2) whether South Dakota *861should adopt a national standard of care for legal malpractice claims; (3) whether the circuit court erred in finding that collateral estoppel precluded litigation on the conflicted representation claim; (4) whether the circuit court improperly weighed the evidence as to the proximate cause of Hamilton’s damages; and (5) whether the circuit court committed reversible error by denying a continuance after striking Lille-haug’s testimony.

Standard of Review

[¶ 17.] “Summary judgment is an extreme remedy, ... not intended as a substitute for a trial.” Discover Bank v. Stanley, 2008 S.D. 111, ¶ 19, 757 N.W.2d 756, 762 (quoting Cont’l Grain Co. v. Heritage Bank, 1996 S.D. 61, ¶ 17, 548 N.W.2d 507, 511). Our review of summary judgment is well settled:

We must determine whether the moving party demonstrated the absence of any genuine issue of material fact and showed entitlement to judgment on the merits as a matter of law. The evidence must be viewed most favorably to the nonmoving party and reasonable doubts should be resolved against the moving party. The nonmoving party, however, must present specific facts showing that a genuine, material issue for trial exists. Our task on appeal is to determine only whether a genuine issue of material fact exists and whether the law was correctly applied. If there exists any basis which supports the ruling of the trial court, affirmance of a summary judgment is proper.

De Smet Farm Mut. Ins. Co. of S.D. v. Busskohl, 2013 S.D. 52, ¶ 11, 834 N.W.2d 826, 831 (quoting Brandt v. Cnty. of Pennington, 2013 S.D. 22, ¶ 7, 827 N.W.2d 871, 874). We review the circuit court’s findings of fact “under the clearly erroneous standard.” Peterson v. Issenhuth, 2014 S.D. 1, ¶ 15, 842 N.W.2d 351, 355 (quoting Eagle Ridge Estates Homeowners Ass’n, Inc. v. Anderson, 2013 S.D. 21, ¶ 12, 827 N.W.2d 859, 864). We review the circuit court’s conclusions of law de novo. Id.

[¶ 18.] Further, we review “a circuit court’s decision to admit or deny an expert’s testimony under the abuse of discretion standard.” Burley v. Kytec Innovative Sports Equip., Inc., 2007 S.D. 82, ¶ 12, 737 N.W.2d 397, 402. An abuse of discretion “is a fundamental error of judgment, a choice outside the range of permissible choices, a decision, which, on full consideration, is arbitrary or unreasonable.” Thurman v. CUNA Mut. Ins. Soc’y, 2013 S.D. 63, ¶ 11, 836 N.W.2d 611, 616.

Analysis

[¶ 19.] Whether the circuit court erred in striking Lillehaug’s expert opinion, which was based upon a national standard of care.

[¶ 20.] Hamilton contends that his expert’s (Lillehaug’s) testimony was reliable and any deficiency should go towards the weight, not admissibility, of his testimony. Appellees contend that Lille-haug based his testimony on an incorrect standard of care (national) and, thus, the circuit court appropriately excluded Lille-haug’s testimony. These arguments touch on the first two issues raised by Hamilton; therefore, we will address those issues together.

[¶ 21.] A negligence action in general requires four elements to be proven. As stated in Bernie v. Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls, “[i]n order to prevail in a suit based on negligence, a plaintiff must prove duty, breach of that duty, proximate and factual causation, and actual injury.” 2012 S.D. 63, ¶ 15, 821 N.W.2d 232, 240 (quoting Highmark Fed. Credit Union v. Hunter, 2012 S.D. 37, ¶ 9, 814 *862N.W.2d 413, 415). Moreover, a successful claim against an attorney for legal malpractice requires proof of four elements: “(1) the existence of an attorney-client relationship giving rise to a duty, (2) the attorney, either by an act or failure to act, breached that duty, (3) the attorney’s breach of duty proximately caused injury to the client, and (4) the client sustained actual damage.” Peterson, 2014 S.D. 1, ¶ 17, 842 N.W.2d at 355.

[¶ 22.] “[T]he existence of a duty is a question of law to be determined by the court” and not the jury. Janis v. Nash Finch Co., 2010 S.D. 27, ¶ 8, 780 N.W.2d 497, 500 (quoting Small v. McKennan Hosp., 403 N.W.2d 410, 413 (S.D.1987)). “The court determines, as a matter of law, the existence and scope or range of that duty.” 57A Am.Jur.2d Negligence § 78 (2014). Depending on the facts of the case, locality may or may not be one of the considerations of the court in determining duty as a matter of law. “In terms of legal malpractice, as in tort law generally, the standard of care is the behavioral component of duty.” Michael P. Ambrosio & Denis F. McLaughlin, The Use of Expert Witnesses in Establishing Liability in Legal Malpractice Cases, 61 Temp. L.Rev. 1351, 1357-58 (1988). “Once the court determines that the law imposes a duty[,] ... it must then determine what conduct the law requires to fulfill that legal duty.” Id.

[T]he required standard of conduct is the exercise of professional care and skill. Although this general legal standard of care is established by law, the question of whether the legal standard of care has been fulfilled in a particular case is decided by the malpractice trier of fact. On this issue, the role of the expert witness is critical. Except in certain cases, it is an expert witness who must establish the particular standard of care, i.e., the particular level of professional conduct required to meet the legal standard of care, and whether an attorney’s conduct conforms to this standard of care. This is because the degree of skill and care ordinarily exercised by lawyers in particular cases is generally beyond the common knowledge of laypersons.

Id. (footnotes omitted).

[¶ 23.] Consideration of the following criteria is required in determining the reasonableness of a lawyer’s conduct: “(1) the requisite skill and knowledge; (2) the degree of skill and knowledge to be possessed and exercised; (3) the effect of local considerations and custom; and (4) any special abilities possessed by the lawyer.” 2 Ronald E. Mallen & Jeffrey M. Smith, with Allison D. Rhodes, Legal Malpractice § 20:2 (2014 ed.). “A translation of these considerations into a standard of care means that an attorney should exercise the skill and knowledge ordinarily possessed by attorneys under similar circumstances.” 5 Id. “Considerations of locality, *863custom and special skills are treated as the ‘similar circumstances.’ ” Id.

[¶ 24.] Analyzing the facts in this case, in regard to the conflicted representation claim, we note that Lillehaug wrote in his expert report that “the applicable standard of care is consistent with, and well stated by, Rule 1.7.” He noted how South Dakota’s Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 1.7 is identical to the American Bar Association’s Model Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 1.7. Then, during his deposition, Lil-lehaug testified that a national standard of care applied to legal ethics:

Lillehaug: Okay. My opinion is that the standard of care with respect to conflict of interest, the issue relevant to us today, is essentially a national standard of care and that there is nothing unique about South Dakota in that regard. I believe I am familiar with the South Dakota standard of care with respect to conflict of interest, not just by reading the rule, but by discussions with South Dakota attorneys over the years, but I can’t identify any particular attorneys or discussions.

Attorney: So let me understand this ... I asked: Are you familiar with the standard of care for legal ethics in South Dakota? And what you’re saying to me is that you believe, as is relevant to this case, that it’s a national standard of care and it’s not a local standard of care; is that correct?

Lillehaug: Correct.

[¶ 25.] In regard to the insurance investigation claim, Lillehaug identified the standard of care as: “to take competent and diligent steps to identify and confirm liability coverage and tender the case to *864the carrier for defense and indemnity.” Lillehaug testified his opinion was based on his experience and what he has learned from other more senior and experienced lawyers throughout the course of his career with respect to cases that involve insurance. He claimed that “other lawyers” included two members of the South Dakota Bar. Appellees’ attorney asked:

Attorney: Are you familiar with the standard practice regarding investigating insurance coverage in South Dakota by South Dakota lawyers?

Lillehaug: I’m not aware that there is anything different with respect to South Dakota as far as investigating insurance coverage than in any other state. Attorney: Have you done any investiga-

tion to determine whether there is any standard of care different in South Dakota than what you have had?

Lillehaug: No.

[IT 26.] Lenius v. King is cited in the dissent as adopting the locality rule for defining the standard of care for attorneys in South Dakota. However, the issue that was appealed and decided in Lenius was the need for an expert on the standard of care. 294 N.W.2d 912, 913 (S.D.1980). Although the circuit court in Lenius gave a jury instruction that included locality, that part of the instruction was not appealed and was thus not analyzed by the Court, other than to state, “[W]e are not persuaded that the instruction incorrectly states the law applicable in this case.” Id. at 914. The Court went'on to note that the circuit court applied the same standard of care required of a lawyer that is required for the medical profession. Id. We have since adopted a national standard of care for specialists in medicine. See Mousseau v. Schwartz, 2008 S.D. 86, ¶ 17, 756 N.W.2d 345, 352 (citing Shamburger v. Behrens, 418 N.W.2d 299, 306 (S.D.1988), overruled on other grounds by Russo v. Takata Corp., 2009 S.D. 83, 774 N.W.2d 441).

[¶27.] In describing a lawyer’s duty, this Court in Lenius merely stated, in general:

In a malpractice action the jury decides, from evidence presented at trial by other lawyers called as expert witnesses, whether a lawyer possessed and used the knowledge, skill, and care which the law demands of him. The opinions and testimony of such experts are indispensable in determining questions which are unfamiliar to ordinary witnesses and, within that field, the opinions of lay witnesses are not admissible.

294 N.W.2d at 914 (emphasis added).

[¶ 28.] In applying a standard of care, locality can also be considered as a factor or special circumstance when determining whether an attorney has met the standard, in an appropriate case, such as where local rules, practices or customs are relevant to claimed breach of duty.6 However, in many cases locality is not relevant to the application of the standard of care.7 Therefore, the application of the locality rule is fact specific and will not be an issue *865in every case. See Dwain E. Fagerlund, Legal Malpractice: The Locality Rule and Other Limitations of the Standard of Care: Should Rural and Metropolitan Lawyers Be Held to the Same Standard of Care?, 64 N.D. L.Rev. 661, 686-87 (1988). For the two issues in this case — first, conflict of interest in representing multiple clients and, second, investigation of insurance coverage — there was no showing that locality was a relevant factor.

[¶ 29.] In cases where locality may be relevant to the expectations a client has of his lawyer, we agree with the circuit court that a statewide focus would usually be appropriate. “[A]n attorney’s required level of skill and ability is not defined by the individual locality in which he practices. The state is the more logical and generally accepted territorial limitation on the standard of care.” Moore v. Lubnau, 855 P.2d 1245, 1249 (Wyo.1993). However, there may be cases where it is not appropriate to apply a statewide standard, and we should not limit ourselves to only using a statewide approach.

[T]here is the possibility that limiting the standard of care to the state may foster an unacceptably low level of performance in certain areas of the law. It is plausible that in some areas of law, all the lawyers in a given state may lack the necessary skill, knowledge, and experience to handle a case properly. If such were the case, testimony by a lawyer practicing in that state as to the standard of care in a similar situation would serve to perpetuate an unacceptably low level of legal service.

Fagerlund, supra ¶ 28, at 686-87.

[¶ 30.] Although it is now unlikely that David Lillehaug is in a position to testify in this case due to his current position on the Minnesota Supreme Court, he was, at the time his testimony was offered, highly qualified as an attorney to testify to the standard of care for attorneys. His expert testimony, when read in its entirety, addressed the issues of the requisite obligations of an attorney.8 His testimony should not have been stricken because it failed to meet a locality standard, even when expanded by the circuit court to the statewide standard. Striking his testimony is illustrative of a glaring problem in applying the locality rule to all attorney malpractice actions, as there was no showing that locality unique to the jurisdiction had any impact on the standard of care in this case. His testimony met the requirements of SDCL 19-15-2, by assisting the trier of fact to understand a fact in issue. The striking of his testimony illustrates the trap in applying such a standard when locality is not relevant to attorneys’ actions.

[¶ 31.] In determining the standard of care to be applied in this case, the circuit court on remand should evaluate the case under the standard that a lawyer, who owes a duty of care, must exercise the competence and diligence normally exercised by a lawyer in similar circumstances. If applicable, the court must consider locality, custom, and special skills in determining “similar circumstances.” Mallen et al., supra ¶ 23, § 20:2. The court should specifically identify the “similar circumstances,” if any, to be used by the jury in their determination whether the duty, as defined by the court, was breached.9 See id. The trier of fact must apply that *866standard of care and address breach of duty, proximate and factual causation, and actual injury.

[¶ 32.] Whether the circuit court erred in finding collateral estoppel precluded litigation on the conflicted representation issue.

[¶ 33.] Hamilton argues that Judge Flemmer’s finding, during the Underlying Lawsuit, that Hamilton signed a conflict of interest waiver at the outset of Appellees’ representation was clearly erroneous, and that the circuit court was incorrect when it determined collateral estoppel precluded relitigation of that issue. Ap-pellees argue that this issue is moot, or in the alternative, that the .'circuit court was correct when it determined collateral es-toppel precluded relitigation of that issue.

[¶ 34.] The collateral estoppel doctrine “bar[s] relitigation of an essential fact or issue involved in the earlier suit” if a four-part test is satisfied: “(1) Was the issue decided in the prior adjudication identical with the one presented in the action in question? (2) Was there a final judgment on the merits? (3) Was the party against whom the plea is asserted a party or in privity with a party to the prior adjudication? (4) Did the party against whom the plea is asserted have a full and fair opportunity to litigate the issue in the prior adjudication?” Estes v. Millea, 464 N.W.2d 616, 618 (S.D.1990). We review a circuit court’s application of collateral es-toppel de novo. Am. Family Ins. Grp. v. Robnik, 2010 S.D. 69, ¶ 14, 787 N.W.2d 768, 774.

[¶ 35.] In the Underlying Lawsuit after a formal hearing, Judge Flemmer found that Hamilton signed a conflict waiver at the outset of Appellees’ representation. That finding was not objected to nor appealed. Applying the four-part collateral estoppel test, the circuit court found: “(1) the issue was decided by Judge Flemmer in a former adjudication; (2) Judge Flem-mer entered a final judgment on the merits; (3) Hamilton previously litigated the issue and lost on the merits against Adee; (4) Hamilton had a full and fair opportunity to litigate the issue of conflicted representation in the prior adjudication.” Ultimately, based on collateral estoppel, the court determined “the finding that a conflict of [interest] waiver was signed appears settled.”

[¶ 36.] We agree that collateral estop-pel applies to the limited issue of whether Hamilton had signed a conflict of interest waiver. See Estes, 464 N.W.2d at 618 (barring “relitigation of an essential fact or issue involved in the earlier suit”). Collateral estoppel does not apply to the broader question of whether Appellees engaged in a nonconsentable, conflicted representation of Hamilton.

[¶ 37.] Whether the circuit court improperly weighed evidence in granting summary judgment regarding proximate cause.

[¶ 38.] In addition to basing summary judgment regarding conflicted representation on Hamilton’s failure to present expert testimony as to the appropriate standard of care, the circuit court relied on Hamilton’s purported failure to bear his *867burden of production regarding proximate cause.

[¶ 39.] Proximate cause is an essential element of a legal malpractice claim. Peterson, 2014 S.D. 1, ¶ 17, 842 N.W.2d at 355-56 (citing Chem-Age Indus., Inc. v. Glover, 2002 S.D. 122, ¶ 24, 652 N.W.2d 756, 767). Likewise, proximate cause is an essential element of a breach of fiduciary duty claim. Chem-Age Indus., Inc., 2002 S.D. 122, ¶ 38, 652 N.W.2d at 772. Proximate cause is defined as “a cause that produces a result in a natural and probable sequence and without which the result would not have occurred. Such cause need not be the only cause of a result. It may act in combination with other causes to produce a result.” Peterson, 2014 S.D. 1, ¶ 17, 842 N.W.2d at 355-56 (quoting Estate of Gaspar v. Vogt, Brown & Merry, 2003 S.D. 126, ¶ 6, 670 N.W.2d 918, 921). This Court has further defined proximate cause as “[a]n immediate cause and which, in natural or probable sequence, produced the injury complained of.... Furthermore, for proximate cause to exist, the harm suffered must be found to be a foreseeable consequence of the act complained of.” Weiss v. Van Norman, 1997 S.D. 40, ¶ 13, 562 N.W.2d 113, 116-17 (quoting Musch v. H-D Coop., Inc., 487 N.W.2d 623, 624 (S.D.1992)). “Causation is generally a question of fact for the jury except when there can be no difference of opinion in the interpretation of the facts.” Id. Further, this Court has worded the attorney malpractice causal requirement in the negative:

[I]t is often said that the plaintiff can recover against the defendant-attorney only when it can be shown that the injury would not have occurred “but for” the negligence of the lawyer. Thus, the plaintiff must establish that the total or partial loss would not have occurred had it not been for some act or omission on the part of the attorney.

Id. ¶ 12 (quoting Haberer v. Rice, 511 N.W.2d 279, 284 (S.D.1994)). The plaintiff can satisfy the causation element by recreating the underlying action — known as a “case within a case.” Haberer, 511 N.W.2d at 285.

[¶ 40.] Specifically, Hamilton argues he provided sufficient proximate cause evidence based on whether he would have been successful in the Underlying Lawsuit. He argues the following facts for support:

(1) Adee received a much better result through settlement than he would have at trial because he did not request any bee sites in the underlying matter; (2) Hamilton won at the administrative hearing based on the landowners having the right to decide who placed hives on their land; (3) Hamilton’s damages are based on the loss of bee yards and [Ap-pellees] cannot claim this is speculative because it is the same theory they used to argue Adee would obtain a large jury verdict; (4) Sommers told Hamilton he had done nothing wrong and that Adee could provide no fact on which a jury could find against him; (5) Block and Amman testified in their depositions that Hamilton did nothing wrong; (6) there was no interest in settlement until after the motion hearing; and (7) there was no evidence that Hamilton misrepresented facts or that he aided in misrepresentations made by Amman and Block.

Appellees argue that no reasonable jury could have found that Hamilton would have received a better result in the Underlying Lawsuit but for Appellees’ alleged negligence.

[¶ 41.] Here, the circuit court found that Hamilton would not have prevailed in the Underlying Lawsuit, citing evidence to support a civil conspiracy claim against *868Hamilton, including joint participation in preparing the revocation and permission form, printing the listing sites, dividing respective territories by geographic region, establishing a territorial boundary line in obtaining sites “sold” to Adee, and traveling to Pierre to register the sites. The court stated there was evidence that Hamilton went to sites where he knew Adee had been, including where he actually saw Adee’s hives, and received permission from the owner to place bee hives at that site.

[¶ 42.] Hamilton argues that the circuit court improperly weighed that evidence. Upon review, we agree. The evidence mentioned by the court raises genuine questions of material fact. The circuit court conceded: “Thus, Hamilton raises a question of fact as to whether he participated with Block and Amman in the alleged conspiracy.” The circuit court then went on to weigh evidence and resolve disputed evidence to conclude that Hamilton participated in the alleged conspiracy and, therefore, would not have prevailed in the Underlying Lawsuit. The judge’s function at the summary judgment stage, however, is not to weigh the evidence and determine the matters’ truth. See Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 249, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 2511, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). But, it appears that is what the court did here. Weighing the evidence to derive its conclusion that Hamilton would not have prevailed in the Underlying Lawsuit was reversible error.

[1143.] Alternatively, Hamilton argues he provided sufficient proximate cause evidence to show that fhe Underlying Lawsuit’s settlement was unreasonable. Ap-pellees argue that the settlement was reasonable.

[¶ 44.] When reviewing a settlement’s reasonableness, we are aware of a lawyer’s hindsight vulnerability. Settlement negotiations often require flexible and educated positions, by both parties, in arriving at an agreeable solution. That flexibility requires a flexible standard of care. A California appellate court aptly stated that “[t]he standard should be whether the settlement is within the realm of reasonable conclusions, not whether the client could have received more or paid less.” Filbin v. Fitzgerald, 211 Cal.App.4th 154, 149 Cal.Rptr.3d 422, 433 (2012) (internal quotation marks omitted). The court justified: “No lawyer has the ability to obtain for each client the best possible compromise but only a reasonable one.” Id. (internal quotation marks omitted).

[¶ 45.] The circuit court determined that Hamilton provided insufficient evidence that Appellees’ settlement was unreasonable, what would have been a reasonable settlement, and that Adee would have agreed to the settlement. See Stern Oil Co. v. Brown, 2012 S.D. 56, ¶ 8, 817 N.W.2d 395, 398 (“[T]he party challenging summary judgment must substantiate his allegations with sufficient probative evidence that would permit a finding in his favor on more than mere speculation, conjecture, or fantasy.” (quoting Tolle v. Lev, 2011 S.D. 65, ¶ 11, 804 N.W.2d 440, 444)). In his brief, Hamilton does not seem to dispute those findings. Instead, Hamilton argues he never should have been put in the position to settle. It is premature, however, to address this matter, as a remand may or may not substantiate Hamilton’s claim.

[¶ 46.] Hamilton also argues Appellees’ failure to investigate insurance coverage was the proximate cause of Hamilton’s damage. Appellees argue that Hamilton provided insufficient evidence to support his claim.

[¶ 47.] On review, we note that the circuit court did not address this exact issue *869in its memorandum decision or order. In its order, the court based its decision to grant summary judgment on the insurance investigation claim on Hamilton’s failure to provide sufficient expert testimony, not on a failure to provide sufficient evidence to support a finding of proximate cause. As no finding or conclusion was based on this argument, we do not address it.

[¶ 48.] Whether the circuit court committed reversible error by denying a continuance after striking Lillehaug’s testimony.

[¶ 49.] Because of our ruling on the preceding issues, we need not reach this issue.

Conclusion

[¶ 50.] The circuit court did not err by finding collateral estoppel precluded litigation of the limited issue of whether Hamilton signed a conflict of interest waiver. However, the circuit court abused its discretion by striking Hamilton’s expert’s opinion, leaving Hamilton without the necessary expert opinion to establish the applicable standard of care. In addition, the circuit court inappropriately weighed evidence during summary judgment in its proximate cause determination on the conflicted representation issue. As a result, summary judgment was improper. We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand consistent with this opinion.