In the middle of the Ride the Ducks trial Beth Taylor of Thompson Reuters called and asked if Super Lawyers could profile me for its annual magazine. She wouldn’t take no for an answer. Ross Anderson, a freelance journalist met me over a weekend. We chatted a bit. Over the next few months he read the press coverage of the Ride the Ducks trial. Watched episodes on Court TV. And even came to trial. A good part of the article was written before the verdict came down in February of 2019.
Read MoreMy 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.
Read MoreA male news anchor from Australia wore the same suit every day for a year - changing his shirt and tie - and no one noticed. He did this to prove a point after becoming frustrated with the constant criticisms levied by the public against his female co-anchor's appearance.
"No one has noticed; no one gives a s**t. But women, they wear the wrong colour and they get pulled up. Women are judged much more harshly and keenly for what they do, what they say and what they wear."
Read MoreThe house is beautiful and glowing. Am standing with back to fully enclosed gas fireplace. Getting warm. Talking to Steven who is sitting by the chess board.
Fzzzzzzzzz. Crackle.
He jumps up running toward me. Hits at my head.
Read MoreMy mother brought a 73 year old palm reader to Thanksgiving dinner.
Mom: I want to bring my friend Ed. He is really bright. He is an attorney and a palm reader and I share my energy with him.
Me: Mom, I have already set the tables for 27. We do not have room. I don't have any plates left and had to get extra silverware from the office.
Read MoreThis is called - taking your nick name to the next level.
Read More10. Don't like umbrellas
9. Not as easy to lose as a hat
8. Doesn't smoosh hair down like a hat
7. Like versatility of putting it up or down
Read MoreTap. Tap. Tap. It is dark out. Grope for the clock. Bring it within two inches of my eyes and squint. 6:00. Which means it is 5:50 since pushed it forward a teeny bit. Just in case there was a day like today. Put it back on nightstand to go back to sleep.
Tap. Tap. Tap. Really drives me nuts when my upstairs neighbor wears shoes. Yes, am still in the condo. Waiting for the house remodel to one day end. Condo is a hundred year old apartment conversion. The old wood floors are beautiful . Dark and glossy. There is just one problem.
Read MoreTrial starts tomorrow. There's just one little itty problem. And it is at the end of my foot.
The saga started two months ago. (Packing whacking and a sick dog). Basically thought the toe was chopped off but instead broke it.
Like any good trial lawyer - didn't go to the doctor. No time for that. Instead watched the toe swell into warm fat sausage with red black and blue tinge. Figured it would have healed by now but oh no.
Read MoreI wrote about the botox effect in October 2010. Intuition is partially based upon micro-expressions. I worried about being handicapped in trial. What if a juror or witness had been facially frozen. The article concluded: "This all means that I better embrace my wrinkles because I need a jury to believe that I am me."
Read MoreDowntown Salt Lake City feels like several different worlds. To the right and across the street is Temple Square complete with amazing church spires set within the background of a mountain range. I've never seen so many men in suits and ties.
To the right is the old Union Station which is now part of The Gateway. This is where all the shops are. A whole lot of 'em. And a movie theater. Not quite so buttoned up here. Don't feel quite so alien. Need to kill some time before the movie starts. So walk into Salon H20. Can't tell you how long it has been since I've been a salon. You'd feel sorry for me.
Read MoreMy sister has given me a deliciously beautiful pair of shoes that are too big for her. They are gray and sparkly - totally not "business attire" - and therefore entirely appropriate for me to wear today. Problem is, the left shoe is too big for me too! So I'm walking around the vast convention center, heel flapping, trying to look totally cool. The biggest initial problem this causes is that I can't hustle from room to room fast enough to watch the overlapping programs that I'm interested in. I make up for it by saying hi to everyone I pass which hopefully keeps them looking at my smile and not my flapping footwear.
Read MoreI'm out to dinner with new friends who are visiting Seattle. You don't fit the profile, says the husband. He's smiling but he's also scanning me. No doubt looking for my wicked sharp edges that are nowhere evident. Not only is my dress floaty soft layers of chiffon, it is raining and my hair is a halo of corkscrews. The same type of comment is made during the meal. And I reassure them not to worry, I most certainly am.
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