Archive

On September 24, 2015 - beautiful inside and out HaRam Kim was injured in the Ride the Ducks Aurora Bridge crash. She was taken to Harborview where she survived for several days. Just long enough for her loving family to fly from Korea to see her one last time.

It’s too early to stop and smell the roses. But am out on the deck, moving pots around. Preparing for spring planting.

Am wrestling with a big pot. Bent over in a squat. Feel a prick on nose and stand up. This is bad.

Ed and I started dating in Philadelphia at an AAJ convention. After a lifetime of living in Texas he moved to Seattle a year into the relationship in 2009, ten years ago this month. He office shared with my law firm and started wearing more jeans and less cashmere suiting. We broke up shy of three years later. And stayed friends.

Today we received a Commendation from R. Rex Parris, Mayor of City of Lancaster for our work on the Ride the Ducks trial.

Today am supposedly blasted by an old school rapper defendant who has been sued by two of my clients for alleged sexual assault. He doesn’t have his lawyer call me up or write a letter. Nope. He issues (drum roll) a personal attack press release. Which by the way gains very little traction surely to the dismay of his PR firm. Here’s what it says according to TMZ.

Jesica has marked off our half of the courtroom to reserve it for cocounsel clients, members of the law firm, and people who want to cheer us on.  Defense counsel ignore the signs and line up behind Jesica.  

Andrew shows me some of the transcript from yesterday.  Since I tactically missed it.  They are complaining about the second screen.  Conspiracy theorizing  am trying to block their view of the jury or vice versa.  So the judge tells them to move over next to us.  It’s even pettier than that though.  Remember the lego wall we built to keep them at least symbolically on the other side.  Well they have been stressing about that wall ever since.  They start to complain to the court that I might do something with legos during closing.  She shuts them down.  Seriously.  They are in a tizzy over a screen and legos on the eve of closing.  Gawd.

Yesterday, the State Senate, approved a motion to amend Washington’s wrongful death act.

According to the Associated Press:

In debate before the vote, the bill's sponsor said the provision stemmed from efforts by business interests at the beginning of the 20th century to block claims made by the families of Chinese miners killed in workplace accidents.

"This law has its roots in racist origins," said Sen. Bob Hasegawa, D-Seattle. State documents date the provision in the law to 1909. Hasegawa's language echoed claims by the Korean parents of a student killed in the Ride the Ducks crash.

One month after trial has ended - am still keyed up. Aggressive. Hostile. If you look at me the wrong way will absolutely light into you.

During our monthly firm meeting confess how mad I am still at the defense lawyers being mean to our plaintiffs. Can hardly stand to see their names even in emails.

The notices of appeal arrive today. First by Ride the Ducks International (out of Branson Missouri). Second by Ride the Ducks Seattle.

Predictable. Still makes me mad to see them. Especially since Ducks Seattle went around crowing to the world how happy they were with the jury’s verdict. Got an adjective to describe that behavior but will refrain

The jury renders its verdict. The media covers the story. The public sees the headlines. It looks like the case is over.

But no.

The 40 injured victims who have waited three and a half years for justice. Are still waiting.

Because Ride the Ducks International/its insurance companies have more legal moves to make.

Motion number one: Demand a new trial with a different judge.

I delegate the job of arguing legal motions and jury instructions to Andrew Ackley. He has this chore most days after trial and several full working days. At first sit at counsel’s table and watch him. But as the trial progresses, as soon as the trial day ends - bolt out of the door. Do not have the bandwith to listen to the tortuous exercise of compiling jury instructions nor the constant barrage of motions. Andrew is excellent. By dividing up these responsibilities can give full attention to preparing for the next trial day.

We are running out of time. As we march towards trial too many depositions remain to be taken. We ask the four defendants to narrow their list of experts. They do no such thing. They ignore us. We ask for their experts’ opinions. The defendants tell us they won’t have them until after their experts review all of our experts’ opinions and depositions.

There is no way we are going to take 54 defense expert witness depositions. Why should we.

Tuesday November 13, 2018

Hey Karen, warns Travis Jameson, a loyal member of the law firm.  You may already know this but the defense bar has gotten ahold of your trial diaries.  Someone on your private list is sharing them.

Oh No!  Exclaim to self.  Heart racing and panic setting in.  Now they will know exactly how I feel and all of my strategy.  Everything is ruined.  Oh this is such a fiasco.  What Shall I do. Hand over forehead in partial swoon.

Actually, finish chewing lemon luna bar.  Reflect on the state of new boots peeking out from the cropped hem of tan banana republic trousers.  Pointy toed made of a stretch fabric.  Kitten heels taper down to a point the diameter of a pencil.  Silk black top with tan stars and a neckline that starts off as a v but ties at the throat.  Black jacket of course.

Wake up too early.  Go back to pretend sleep.  Lie there.  Perform countdown of how long it will all take.  Remember Alysha has gone to the cabin with Nala and the house is totally quiet.  No Nala to feed or take potty.  Or to laugh with.  Reduce countdown.  Thirty minutes later have donned black cream and red plaid slim slacks, red shirt with ruffles, favorite Boss black jacket and pointy toe heeled boots with tassles that swing back and forth. 

One of the challenges in representing 40 people in a mass disaster trial is to put on their medical damages cases without taking weeks and weeks.We have been streamlining the case not only since before trial began, but also during trial.

Jury is filing in.  Am standing off to the side to let them pass.  Realize still wearing sneakers.  Judge has noticed and chuckles.  Rush to chair.  Sit and buckle ankle straps of heels.  This looks better with stockings, black criss cross in the front bcbg skirt with raspberry toned red Moschino jacket over free people wildly batique-ish top with key hole neckline. Costume bangles accompanying apple watch.

Just spent a weekend in Lululemon and now it is time to get court ready again.  There have been times over the years where have resented having to figure out what to wear.  Including whether to repeat or not in a long trial.  But dressing up for court is really like putting on a costume for the big show.  There is a stage and audience and what we wear is a part of the whole process.  So for the most part, don’t whine.  Messages are being sent by what we wear in court.

Today’s uber driver is from Romania where everyone crushes grapes in vats at their homes. Some is saved as grape juice for the kids.  The rest is put in a bottle.  In 6 months there is good wine.   Better than you can get at Safeway.  He would like me to use uberXL versus uberX.  The numerous reasons range from the safer more superior status of his SUV to what difference does a few more bucks make if we are all going to die anyway. Drops me off.

Get through security without beeping.  Climb 9 flights.  Enter on the dot at 8:30 as ordered by the court so we can address pretrial matters.  8:45 Mr. Ulmer announced her honor will be arriving in 7 minutes.  Her bus has been delayed again.  She arrives.

Walk into courtroom with Alysha.  Most of law firm family have come to watch.  Clients many with co-counsel have arrived.  Some from around the world.    Press is establishing base camp in the rear.  As the minutes approach 9 the room fills. 

Put bags on the table.  Step out of tennies and into heels.  Walk behind 85” tv that is in front right corner of the room.  Breathe in and out.  Kevin the court reporter is setting up.  He says are you trying to avoid all the people.  Nod at him.  Smile.  Find center.

Judge Shaffer enters just before 9.  Jury comes in.  Sits.  Instructions are read.  Judge says:  now please turn your attention to the plaintiff for opening statement.

Two weeks after Liam is born we start the Ride the Ducks Aurora Bridge trial. In the months leading up to the trial stop writing or discussing the case publicly. This includes to the media, to social media, to this blog.

The jurors will be instructed not to read, watch, or listen to anything about this case. They will not be reading this blog for example. So it is not quite clear how pretrial publicity especially in a civil case can be prejudicial if the lawyers talk to the media which the jurors will not be reading. Rather than debate the issue look to The Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC) 3.6.

September 12, 2018

12.44 am Complete another deposition designation.

1:30 Conk out

7:00 Wake up. Today is marked off as a day I will not be working.

7:30 Return to computer on kitchen table and work. Massive trial paperwork deadlines due tomorrow.

9:00 Go for run with Nala because it is the only time that will be possible.

The courtroom is filled with black and gray suits.  Andrew is fiddling with the projector.  Camera person sets up.  Reporter sits down.  I pull out my computer.  Get it ready.  The projector is a no go - but we've brought our own.   Andrew switches them out.  I plug in my computer.   Mess around with the clicker.  Battery works.  But the back won't close.  Ah. There it goes.

Click back and forth on a few slides. Works.  Look up.  Turn toward the back of the courtroom and see Cristina and Alysha.  They've come to watch.  

(a) A lawyer who is participating or has participated in the investigation or litigation of a matter shall not make an extrajudicial statement that the lawyer knows or reasonably should know will be disseminated by means of public communication and will have a substantial likelihood of materially prejudicing an adjudicative proceeding in the matter. (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), a lawyer may state:

The defense counsel writes to the Judge that I have displayed “histrionics and inflammatory rhetoric” in my legal argument.

Dear mom.  How's heaven.  

I was in the newspaper today.  You would have been delighted.  You always enjoyed bad news more than the good.   

Once upon a time there was a lawyer who believed strongly in her clients' case.  She fought hard.  On the other side of the case was a defense lawyer she'd never met before.  He didn't like her.  He tried to bully her. 

Defense counsel and I walk up to the Taney County Courthouse in Missouri.  There is a red sign in the middle of the entrance door that says no cell phones or other electronic devices allowed in building.

uly 10, 2018.  

1:30 pm Nala is stepping on my feet.  She knows what the suitcase means.  Looks mournfully at me as I walk out the door.

I met Shellie 30 years ago when she was pregnant with her eldest daughter.  We were both working at a hideously dysfunctional insurance defense firm. She wisely fled before I did.  

My website was old. 

Ten years ago (at age 47 if you must know) finished my stint as President of the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association.  Our organization had helped the citizens of our state survive two consecutive initiative battles - caps on medical negligence damages and a roll back of the Insurance Fair Conduct Act.  We were bashed by the insurance industry in the process via millions in TV ads. 

Took on the small personal mission of sharing the inner workings of life as a plaintiff lawyer.  Hoping that through transparency, others might see that lawyers were real people too. 

1. Walks in and is already flustered.

2. Doesn’t ask your client how they are doing.

3. Isn’t familiar with the details of your clients’ injuries