The Big Fat Rat - a Tom Chambers story
The Big Fat Rat - a Tom Chambers story

Flashback to 1990.

We are at Chambers Court.  In the upstairs conference room.  In a former life, the building was a funeral home.  So when we call it "The Morgue" we aren't joking.

Like all good attorneys with new associates, Tom does not trust me quite yet.  When I am told to depose an electrical engineer defense expert, Tom comes along and sits by my side.  With a foot and a half pile of documents on the table in front of him.  So he can listen with one ear but also get the rest of his work done.

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Karen Koehlermentors
Say hi to my daughter: the tale of a grumpy Allstate lawyer
Say hi to my daughter: the tale of a grumpy Allstate lawyer

This is an excerpt from my trial diary day 3.  In most car crash cases, the jury is never told about insurance.  This old rule makes no sense in our current world.  This case is brought against Allstate for failure to pay an underinsured motorist claim (UIM).  The person who hit M did not have enough insurance. They paid what they had.  Now M seeks to recover the balance from her own UIM coverage.  Allstate has a "sue us" clause in their policy.  This means, if they don't agree to pay the UIM claim, they force their own insureds to file a lawsuit.  This is what happens here.

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Karen Koehlerinsurance, trial diaries
Drop Dead Diva Rules

Imagine you are a blonde LA model who gushes, chirps and bats her eyes as she sashays through life.  One day you die but up in heaven you brazenly push the return to earth button.  Back down you rocket.

At the same time, a brunette, stout, workaholic trial lawyer named Jane saves her senior partner’s life.  She jumps in front of him just as a crazed former client shoots.  She takes the bullet.  Is on the operating table but it is no use.  She breathes her last breath and in you drop from heaven.    When Jane awakens you are her.  Same ditzy yet caring personality but with a twist.  Now you are unfashionable,  super smart and drive a nice car.

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Karen Koehlerinspiration
Comedians at Law Podcasts with The Velvet Hammer
Comedians at Law Podcasts with The Velvet Hammer

Once upon a time four young lawyers decided they hated practicing law.  So they became comedians.  Part of their gig involved creating a podcast.  Which they needed content for.

One day one of the comedians, Matt Ritter,  saw that The Velvet Hammer blog was the number one trial practice blog for the ABA.  He thought that was neat.  Called.  And the rest is comedians at law podcast history.

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Karen Koehlerpublic speaking
Deposition of a defense doctor - in concordance or in cahoots!
Deposition of a defense doctor - in concordance or in cahoots!

The insurance company hires two defense doctors to testify.  They don't examine the patient.  Just read the records and come up with opinions.  A nice way for a couch doctor to earn $750 to $1000 per hour.

I take their depositions one after the other.  Dr. 1 is taken at 2:00 and lasts for an hour.  The next is set to start at 3:30.  So what do you think.  Will Dr. 1 and Dr. 2 try to get their story straight in the 15 minutes between the two depositions.  Read on.

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Karen Koehlerdeposition
Love the Owens
Love the Owens

Tired of fake reality tv.

Try the true life story of the survival and recovery of the Owen family.  Brought to you by - the Owen Family.

According to the news:  On December 21st around 1:20 p.m. The Owen family was traveling on Highway 2 near Stevens Pass when a tree fell onto their suburban and claimed the lives of 58-year-old Tim Owen and 56-year-old Cheryl Reed. Also in the vehicle were the couple's son, Jeremy, daughters Jessie and Jamie, and son-in-law Steven Mayer. Jeremy was released from the hospital but the other three are still being treated for serious injuries.

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Karen Koehlercar accident, in the news, personal injury, client, owen case, wrongful death
Deposition of a defense psychiatrist: doctor do you have a crystal ball
Deposition of a defense psychiatrist: doctor do you have a crystal ball

Ms. A is insured by State Farm with UIM. They do not want to pay the claim.  They hire this psychiatrist to do a records review. To help them challenge the injury claim.   Dr. P never meets or interviews Ms. A.   But being the God-like creature that he is, will testify that Ms. A somaticizes her injuries and has "secondary gain."   What this means in real people language - is that she is making the injuries up.   My job is to show that he is the one making things up.

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Karen Koehlercar accident, experts, insurance, obnoxious defense, personal injury, deposition, if only jurors knew
When to keep our mouths shut
When to keep our mouths shut

Today, someone does something that really ticks me off.  Actually, two someones do.

Inside, am gnashing teeth. Mumbling non-swear words.  Like Elmer Fudd aims at Bugs Bunny.

Outside,  do nothing.  Other than email one word to staff:  Lame.  Then go about business as if nothing is ticking me off at all.

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Karen Koehlerlawyer life, pick your battles
Giving Honor to His Honor
Giving Honor to His Honor

We are packed in his former office building.  Reminiscing.  Rubbing elbows.  Smiling and sometimes shedding tears.  Marveling over the career of this brilliant man.

Born over a gas station in rural Washington.  Becoming one of the best plaintiff trial lawyers the state has ever seen.  President of the trial lawyers.  President of the state bar.  And finally Supreme Court Justice.  We are here to honor Tom Chambers.

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Karen Koehlerfriends, mentors, great people, public speaking
Vote for...me...The ABA law blog 2012
Vote for...me...The ABA law blog 2012

The Velvet Hammer blog won its category last year as the top Trial Law Practice Blog.  Am in the running again this year.

Me:  Alysha, did you you vote for me

A:  Yes

Me:  Well, those kids from Philadelphia are on the hunt.  They are going to catch me.

A:  Just post it on your blog

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Karen Koehlerfamily, writing
The nicest thing an opponent has ever said to me
The nicest thing an opponent has ever said to me

We have been in trial for a month.  Many times he's told me to back off.  We have been Going. At. It.

He is one of the best defense lawyers I've tried a case against.  Nick started as an associate with his law firm when I was in the 8th grade.   But he's not old fashioned.   He used powerpoint in opening and closing.  All of his trial exhibits were projected just like ours - electronically via a 70" LCD screen.

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Karen Koehlerclosing argument, great people
Why "Honey I did great in trial today" may violate ethics rules - and what to do about it.
Why "Honey I did great in trial today" may violate ethics rules - and what to do about it.

Lawyers love rules.  Lawyers also tend to be OCD.  Rules + OCD = an intricate, layered, never ending monstrous pile of rules that becomes increasingly difficult to navigate.  The legal profession calls this - job security.

We are equal opportunity OCD rule creators.  We even create rules to govern ourselves.  Some of them are breathtakenly overbroad and impossible to humanly adhere to.

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Karen Koehlerbar association, lawyer life, legal profession