Still toxic after all these years: tragedy at Gas Works Park
Gas Works Park is a toxic waste site where oil and other harmful chemicals fester just below the surface. But the city of Seattle had the great idea of turning it into a park - opening it to the public fully in 1976.
Beautiful “kite hill” is actually a mound of sewage and toxic structural materials covered by several inches of clay and a lawn. You can’t dip your toes into Lake Union which surround GWP - because of the toxic sediment which has been waiting for more than a decade to get cleaned up.
But the piece d’ resistance are the cracking towers. A delightful name not to be confused with cracker jacks or anything delicious and safe. This is where carcinogenic chemicals and coal were heated up to create fuel. The environment be damned.
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City attorney's office attacks the velvet hammer podcast
In order to protect the integrity of the legal process, an attorney for the City of Seattle, has scoured through The Velvet Hammer podcasts, to find the perfect 38 page exhibit. The issue: Whether attorneys from the Stritmatter Law Firm are capable of being unbiased enough to push the record button during a zoom deposition.
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The importance of going
I knew Shawn from another time. Decades ago. She was so lovely. So warm. So loving. We didn’t keep in touch after my divorce. Not really. I would hear about her and Mark her husband. Once in a blue moon would run into them. Then last November, they visited Maui. Came over for a dinner that Cristina put together. And the years melted away. As they always do when you have a friend who has seen all the way inside of you.
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The Velvet Hammer Podcast Version 2.0 with Mo Hamoudi
The Velvet Hammer Podcast (TM) was becoming not exactly a chore. And not exactly a bore. But it was destined to either dry up and wither away slowly. Or it needed a major redo.
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The aftermath of a crappy $6M wrongful death verdict.
We are all gathered. Back in the courtroom. Two and a half hours after closing ended. The presiding juror has handed the verdict up. The judge has read it. Trying to keep face unreadable. Hands it to the bailiff. Who reads it.
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Trials and babies
On Tuesday mediation failed which means the wrongful death trial will start August 19. Before my mind switches to battle mode, another thought fills my mind. And that thought turns to feelings. And those feelings begin to spread throughout my body. And then I cry.
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On grief and the passing of Nala
After Nala died I fled to New York for a few weeks. Partly to visit Noelle but also to avoid being in the house on Queen Anne hill. Where Nala lived with me for 13 of her 16 years.
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The client (many years later)
We drive down the hill to watch the sunset from the beach. Phuong has come for a visit.
We first met in the hospital She had just turned 18. Barely escaped death. During the Ride the Duck crash of September 2015. After the ducks lost its axle and crossed the center line it rammed into and through the tour bus full of international students. If Phuong had been sitting one seat back she would not be here today.
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The anti-relaxer, and other non-sequiturs
After hearing I was heading back into trial, a lovely friend from kindergarten urged me to retire. What more do you need Karen. What more do you have to prove. You deserve to relax and spend more time being a grandma. All good and valid points.
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Voir Dire zoom from Hawaii
Postscript: this is from my trial diary of prophylaxis class action against seattle children’s hospital.
Trial day 3
6:00 Cockadoodle doo. Wake up.
6:25 Get up and make bed.
6:45 White T. tan lulu shorts. Pink crock slides. Pink sweater jacket picked up over the weekend once decided to stay another week.
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Trial diary excerpt and the Protest case settles.
We settled the protest case for $10M the day before. Actually it had been lingering for a week since the mediation. When the city agreed to a deal then two stepped before refusing to put it in writing. Double crossers.
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R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Goodbye abota.
At first I thought, well Karen - how ridiculous that you would think that you should get award and be mad that you didn’t. As a woman raised in the 60s - we were taught not to be forward, not to expect, to do good work, hope we would be recognized, and not be disappointed when the much louder boys got noticed instead.
But that 60s meek attitude is not how you claw to and survive at the top in the paternalistic world of lawyers. Plus I was raised by parents who believed that if you didn’t fight for yourself and others, then what was the point.
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Earth, Wind and the Lahaina Fire
We watch the flowers rip off the plumeria trees. The glorious hibiscus bushes with their plate size blooms, stripped bare. The areca palm border around the house stands firm, but the fronds are shredding. The pool fills with garden debris. Early in the afternoon, we make our hourly pilgrimage back outside. The air pushes us around. This time we see a large gray cloud. What is that we point. We don’t know. Go inside. Another hour passes. Go back outside. It’s fire. And then Boom.
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Why drunk driving laws are so pathetically unfair to the survivors of roadway violence
Last week, the City told me that a yard blower was a weapon and grounds for arrest when used by a protester to protect others from tear gas. Number of victims: 0. A few days later, the parents of Summer Taylor gave gut wrenching statements during the sentencing the drunk (drugs primarily) driver who took their child’s life and almost killed another.
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Dad is 90
Dad turned 90 this week. The family got together at Debbie & Rob’s house to celebrate the way we usually do. With dim sum and cake.
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Journey to the retreat...in Estes Park
Since covid entered the world, have dramatically curtailed speaking travel. But times are changing. And when the request comes in from the Colorado trial lawyers women’s caucus. I say yes. Even though Anne says: are you suuuuuurrrrreeeee. And wags her eyebrows at me.
We had just turned down Wyoming because there was no direct flight and it would have been an 8 hour trip. But this one is a simple flight to Denver which is not far away. Then an hour and a half drive to the resort. Piece of cake I enthuse. Anne gives me a knowing look.
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"Fan email from your previous client - me"
Hi Karen,
It’s been a while since my case settled in 2010, but you would remember me as ‘Colleen McCallum v. Allstate Insurance’ for a Bad Faith Claim with co-counsel Michael Fisher from Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler.
That MVA was in 2004, and the lawsuits took over 6 years - it was a huge relief once it was finally settled.
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