"The Velvet Hammer" Blog — Karen Koehler

Deposition hell: dealing with the poorly mentored defense baby lawyer

My consistently biggest irritation is the defense lawyer who wastes time for the sake of the billable hour. The typical arena for this involves inefficient taking of depositions. What could be done in an hour - takes four. Or worse - the deposition isn’t needed at all. Add to this the specter of the brand new defense attorney who has not been properly mentored. And it is enough to drive me absolutely wild.

There is a defense firm that I don’t particularly like. It has a problem retaining associates. This means there is a constant stream of new JDs going in and out of there. Two weeks ago, they sic’d one on me.

humanKaren KoehlerApril 11, 2022deposition, defense lawyers, obnoxious defense

The Year Lani Guinier Came to Town

The year was 2008 and I was president of the state trial lawyers association then called WSTLA (now WSAJ). Every year the president had the honor of presiding over the law day dinner. A formal sit down event filled with lawyers and judges.

I had attended many such events over the years and particularly enjoyed the inspiration offered by the key note speaker. One of my favorites was Morris Dees - of the Southern Poverty Law Center. Who told stories of civilly prosecuting white supremacists and then bankrupting their organizations. He gave me chills.

humanKaren KoehlerFebruary 2, 2022women, lawyer seminar, diversity

Happy covid holiday - solitary style

Last night was rough. Spend three hours looking up everything that possibly exists about omicron, isolation, transmission, and dying. Lie in the tub for two hours. Which is a world record. As I head for bed, think: well maybe this is my last night on earth. May not wake up tomorrow.

humanKaren KoehlerDecember 24, 2021covid-19

The story of my incredible immune system, 2 vaccines and a booster.

Wake up happy. Have been back in Seattle 4 days after 10 spent in Manhattan. Went to a Bach concert at Lincoln Center. Saw Wicked on Broadway. Two movies at the theater up the street. Italian dinner with my neighbors. Ran around Central Park every morning before work. Bliss.

We’ve finished our year end work for the firm partnership. I’ve given the great news to all the associates. Will finish up telling staff today. But first - off to cookie decorating with my daughter’s family. Can’t wait to see them. Sniffle. Ignore it.

humanKaren KoehlerDecember 23, 2021covid-19

Side eyes and the importance of our trial lawyer faces

aving an expressive face does not have to be a disaster.

But when I was a young lawyer, I had not quite figured out how to control it. And this got me into trouble.

humanKaren KoehlerNovember 28, 2021lawyer life

Back to the city: A trial lawyer transition

6:30 Look at clock on phone with one eye. 30 more minutes to go.

7:00 Look at it again. Make bargain with self for ten more minutes

7:10 Get up. Am surrounded by the zen beauty of the cedar walls in the cabin. All is silent.

humanKaren KoehlerNovember 15, 2021defense lawyers

Reclaiming the merit of "pain and suffering"

I’m running with Nala. Up near Kerry Park. The “Sleepless in Seattle” vantage point. We are a little late. Trying to get in run before heading to airport. To Austin TX to visit Noelle and JonJon for the weekend. Turn up a street to go a shorter route than usual. Nala’s leash hooks on a truck bumper. She jerks one way. I jerk the other. Down I go. Slow motion. Watch as my right knee jags to the left and back to the right. Fortunately I run slow.

humanKaren KoehlerOctober 25, 2021jury, personal injury

The child who is now a man.

There used to be a club called Mr. Lucky that was directly across the street from the sonics arena at the Seattle Center. On April 19, 2004, at 2 am when the club emptied out into the parking a large fight broke out involving two dozen people. Security more or less let them go at it.

Phuon Mensaveng was a 24 year old father no bigger than I. He was in the melee. A tall bodybuilder type took a four foot metal pipe and swung it as had as he could at Phoun’s face, knocking him to the ground. As Phuon lay dying, people began to kick him. It was ugly. Hideous.

humanKaren KoehlerJuly 30, 2021wrongful death, client

How it feels to face white male privilege in the PI lawyer world

Well, it doesn’t feel good. After all - the plaintiff trial bar is supposed to be made up of the most progressive lawyers that there are. We are after all fighting for civil justice - a good and noble cause.

This all started up (again) 6 days ago. I noticed that the slate of officer candidates for a subgroup of a national lawyer organization that I’m in - was all male. I googled them to double check and they were all white. I then looked at the 36 names of those on the executive board and with 3 exceptions - yes. All white male. So as the congratulations began to come in for the picking of such a great lineup I wrote in: there’s a serious diversity issue.

humanKaren KoehlerJuly 12, 2021legal convention, discrimination, women, racism

The gift - an epic love story

Ana and Curt are kind and gentle although both mentally tough. But as the twins grew it seemed that they were much more challenging to raise than other children. Curt and Ana have written a book about their family’s journey. So what I share here is not being kept as a secret.

humanKaren KoehlerJune 14, 2021love

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