I started teaching piano as a sophomore in high school. By then, I was going on my seventh year of piano. Vy Husted, my own teacher, acted as my supervisor. And I went through a training program. My parents let me turn part of our rec room into a classroom. Two pianos and a double sided chalkboard. This was no joke.
Read MoreAm at a hospital. Sitting on one side of a long table in a cafeteria. With me is my partner Paul Whelan and paralegal Cheryl Baldwin. Paul has been handling medical negligence cases since I was in grade school. He is my Yoda. Cheryl screened this case and knows everything that I need to know. Between the two of them, I'm covered.
Read MoreThere are a lot of lawyers in America.
Lots and lots.
With the demise of the telphone book, most lawyers now have websites. Growing numbers use social media. A few pay for TV and radio ads. And thankfully only a few (grossly) advertise on buses, cabs and billboards.
Read MoreTomorrow we were supposed to be giving closing arguments.
Instead, today the Court sent everyone home.
Can't write about what exactly happened. This case is going to be tried again.
But can tell you what it's like to have a Judge say they're granting a defense motion for mistrial.
This is the third time I've had the experience.
Last week something unpleasant happened.
I lost a friend. Not a great one. But a friend nonetheless.
I met him when he was still a law student and was one of his mentors. He clerked for our firm. Then a bit later he worked with us for a year. He stayed in our building after that, working for another lawyer who was renting an office from us. We kept in touch. His boss moved his office. And we wished them well. A bit later, I heard he had quit and decided to take a job with a defense firm. No shame in that. You gotta do what you gotta do.
Read MoreAm resting on a sandy beach somewhere nice and warm. Every so often someone gives me a tasty little treat and a sip of ice water. The breeze gently rustles my fur. Seagulls caw in the background.
Ellie – time to wake up, she says.
Read MoreBefore this happened, the dumbest thing I ever witnessed in a defense medical exam, was one of the doctors falling asleep.
It was a two doctor panel exam. While the orthopedist was taking a history, the neurologist was reading a political thriller. I thought that was bad enough until midway through. His head was nodding and then jerking forward. Like a puppet on a string held by Mr. Sandman. Until he gave in. Chin coming to rest on his chest. At least he didn't snore.
Read MoreNow that marijuana has been decriminalized in Washington state, issues are going to arise about driving under the influence. Unlike alcohol which only transiently stays in the body and can be detected with various tests, the detection of marijuana is a bit more complicated.
Read MoreDefense attorneys go to legal seminars too. One technique they have been learning is how to take advantage of liberal discovery rules. Increasingly we find them invading where they have no business being.
We can passively let them dig unnecessary holes in our clients' lives. Or we can push back when they cross lines.
Read MorePaul Luvera tried a huge case a few months ago. And won. At the age of 78. (Here's his bio).
I have admired (borderline worshipped) Paul over the years for his skill in trial. Several times I've gone to watch. What struck me, was the way he so gracefully prowled the courtroom floor. And owned it.
Read MoreJohn, Anne and I are a Toulouse Petite. Having our staffing meeting while eating breakfast.
A: Do we need to do anything else to take X's deposition. We have the court order. The Assistant Attorney General says he doesn't think X will agree to say anything.
K3: We could issue a subpoena and have him served. But he's already in prison.
Read MoreInsurance companies cite the "duty to cooperate clause" when they are forcing the person they insure, to provide information. If you don't give them the information they ask for, then they will maintain that the entire policy is void and you are not entitled to make any claim. In this case, I'm the one who said no on behalf of my client their insurer - and in return they quoted the clause.
Here is what happened.
Read MoreBoth sides used extensive demonstrative exhibits during opening. Basically we agreed that I could use what I wanted so long as they could use what they wanted.
The transcript is not very accurate (understatement). The courtroom was video recorded. If we wanted a quick transcript, at the end of the day the bailiff would copy the recordings and provided them to a court reporter. The reporter would then transcribe from the videos with only moderate success.
Read MoreOut the revolving door of the Sheraton onto Canal Street. Run across two lanes of traffic, the street car in the middle, two more lanes of traffic and reach the other side. It's late in the afternoon. A nice assortment of unfortunate ragged souls line up against neon lit buildings.
Read MorePrologue:
Adversarial litigation can leave us feeling angry and indignant on behalf of our clients. Someties we can turn our cheek. Walk away. Other times, we need to engage. When we decide to strike back, we always need to remember to keep the court in mind.
Written interchanges by mail or email have the potential to end up in a motion before the court. Retaliating to a bad email by throwing out a heated written slap is not a good idea. It can end up as Exhibit A.
Read MoreThe past four days have involved a bit of whining. I admit to this.
My clients stoically go through medical horrors. Their family and friends often say: they never complained. They truly are heroes.
I on the other hand have made it one of my missions in life to tell it like it is.
Read MoreWhen a personal injury case settles, we are still our client's lawyer. This means we need to continue to look out for their best interests until our job is done. Even if we are not financial planners or accountants, we cannot walk away without first trying to help our client make well informed decisions. Maybe this is not our legal duty. But it certainly is our moral one.
Read MoreFlashback.
We are up at the mountain. John, my then husband, his best friend Dale, and me. Our mission - teach John to ski. He is a basketball player. This means skiing has not been encouraged over the years by his coaches.
Read MoreMary Fung Koehler is 80 today. So far, these are the lives that she has led:
Prologue: The best and worst outfit I ever wore to the Hollyball was when I was President of WSTLA. It was an election year. We were fighting for the insurance fair conduct act. And if you added to all that -raising my girls and handling my job...well....There was no time for shopping.
The theme was the Red Hot Hollyball. And I was determined to do it right. So a few days before the big event, I went online. Promdresses.com or some such website. Found a red hot hollyball dress.
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