Stay out of court

"ImmoralMinority" (araimondo) 08/22/2018 at 09:07 • Filed to: None

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I have to go to court on a stupid discovery dispute where we are mostly wrong but the client (longtime and very good client) wants to fight, and doesn’t mind spending the money making life difficult for the other side. Man, the older I get, the fewer and fewer judges I see who I respect. Strangely, a guy who I hated when he was a lawyer and when he first became a judge is now the best judge in our county. Oops.

I would rather send someone else, but these people want me personally. They are a great business, have plenty of money, send me lots of work, and are very loyal. That is basicially the perfect client. So I get to drive an hour and a half past the middle of nowhere to the Eden of Porterville, CA. There is actually a nice, brand new courthouse there, but who really gives a shit?

I told a client yesterday not to even think about a trial on their case, as there is no justice or satisfaction to be had in court. That is a terrible thing to say. I have fought my whole career to maintain my idealism for the law, but it is a very difficult thing to do.

Grumble, grumble, grumble. Close the door on me today, Oppo, I'm no fun.

pip bip - choose Corrour > ImmoralMinority 08/22/2018 at 09:16

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as long as you get paid.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > pip bip - choose Corrour 08/22/2018 at 09:20

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Yes but idealism is expensive to maintain.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > ImmoralMinority 08/22/2018 at 09:23

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If you can’t have Fred Gwynne or Fred Thompson as the judge, why even bother? I mean, I bet the judge you’re looking at isn’t even named Fred.

LOREM IPSUM > ImmoralMinority 08/22/2018 at 09:35

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Playing devils advocate can be great fun! You know your position is wrong, but you get to argue madly in defense of it anyway just to see how far you can push it before everyone cries bullshit and throws you out.

..o f course, the next time you’re there with a legitimate standpoint to present, you’ve gotta hope they forgive and forget. Which they probably don’t.

Hey, at least new courthouse means functional a ir c onditioning... I hope. 

haveacarortwoorthree2 > ImmoralMinority 08/22/2018 at 09:36

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God, I hated discovery disputes. I always told clients that unless it was KFC’s 11 secret herbs and spices, just hand it over (assuming there is a protective order in place, which 90 % of the time still isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on). If a client insisted on engaging in silly fights on discovery issues, then they were billed for every second I spent on said issues -- 3 minute phone call, $80. Travel to/from the courthouse -- billed. Wait time in the courtroom -- billed. Sadly, some clients still didn’t care and wanted to fight over silly things.

itranthelasttimeiparkedit > pip bip - choose Corrour 08/22/2018 at 09:59

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Eh I’ve hit the point where I know some clients/work are worth no amount of money. 

shop-teacher > ImmoralMinority 08/22/2018 at 10:34

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“ Mr. Gambini, are you on drugs?”

ranwhenparked > ImmoralMinority 08/26/2018 at 16:13

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Did you actually wear a burgundy tuxedo, though?