Ride the Ducks Trial Day 30: The Hiraokas
Ride the Ducks Trial Day 30: The Hiraokas

Walk up stairs.  See the Hiraoka family.   One year ago took two trips in the space of two months to Japan to visit them.  First trip was a botch job because Scott did not realize you can only take depositions at the US Embassy in Tokyo.  Second trip the deposition went forward in the dingy embassy conference room. 

Dr. John Clark the lay witness is standing with them.   Greet them.  Walk into courtroom. Jesica tells me the interpreter is running late.  Then she tells me that our three witnesses for Tuesday are being stricken.  This is all awesome news first thing on a Monday morning.

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Karen Koehlerride the ducks, trial diaries
Rose in the Nose
Rose in the Nose

It’s too early to stop and smell the roses. But am out on the deck, moving pots around. Preparing for spring planting.

Am wrestling with a big pot. Bent over in a squat. Feel a prick on nose and stand up. This is bad.

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Karen Koehlerlawyer life
Ed and the Art of Friendship
Ed and the Art of Friendship

Ed and I started dating in Philadelphia at an AAJ convention. After a lifetime of living in Texas he moved to Seattle a year into the relationship in 2009, ten years ago this month. He office shared with my law firm and started wearing more jeans and less cashmere suiting. We broke up shy of three years later. And stayed friends.

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Karen Koehlerlawyers have fun, friends
Ride the Ducks Trial Day 62: If We Could Turn Back Time: Closing Argument Ride the Ducks Trial
Ride the Ducks Trial Day 62: If We Could Turn Back Time: Closing Argument Ride the Ducks Trial

Jesica has marked off our half of the courtroom to reserve it for cocounsel clients, members of the law firm, and people who want to cheer us on.  Defense counsel ignore the signs and line up behind Jesica.  

 

Andrew shows me some of the transcript from yesterday.  Since I tactically missed it.  They are complaining about the second screen.  Conspiracy theorizing  am trying to block their view of the jury or vice versa.  So the judge tells them to move over next to us.  It’s even pettier than that though.  Remember the lego wall we built to keep them at least symbolically on the other side.  Well they have been stressing about that wall ever since.  They start to complain to the court that I might do something with legos during closing.  She shuts them down.  Seriously.  They are in a tizzy over a screen and legos on the eve of closing.  Gawd.

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Karen Koehlerride the ducks, closing argument, trial diaries
Senate Moves to Amend Washington's Barbaric Wrongful Death Law of 1909
Senate Moves to Amend Washington's Barbaric Wrongful Death Law of 1909

Yesterday, the State Senate, approved a motion to amend Washington’s wrongful death act.

According to the Associated Press:

In debate before the vote, the bill's sponsor said the provision stemmed from efforts by business interests at the beginning of the 20th century to block claims made by the families of Chinese miners killed in workplace accidents.

"This law has its roots in racist origins," said Sen. Bob Hasegawa, D-Seattle. State documents date the provision in the law to 1909. Hasegawa's language echoed claims by the Korean parents of a student killed in the Ride the Ducks crash.

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Karen Koehlerwrongful death, ride the ducks
Getting un-mad
Getting un-mad

One month after trial has ended - am still keyed up. Aggressive. Hostile. If you look at me the wrong way will absolutely light into you.

During our monthly firm meeting confess how mad I am still at the defense lawyers being mean to our plaintiffs. Can hardly stand to see their names even in emails.

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Karen Koehlerpick your battles, lawyer life
Post Trial Motion: Ride the Ducks International Wants a New Trial and a New Judge
Post Trial Motion: Ride the Ducks International Wants a New Trial and a New Judge

The jury renders its verdict. The media covers the story. The public sees the headlines. It looks like the case is over.

But no.

The 40 injured victims who have waited three and a half years for justice. Are still waiting.

Because Ride the Ducks International/its insurance companies have more legal moves to make.

Motion number one: Demand a new trial with a different judge.

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Karen Koehlerride the ducks, motion, judge
Your Honor: We object to ...the lego wall
Your Honor: We object to ...the lego wall

I delegate the job of arguing legal motions and jury instructions to Andrew Ackley. He has this chore most days after trial and several full working days. At first sit at counsel’s table and watch him. But as the trial progresses, as soon as the trial day ends - bolt out of the door. Do not have the bandwith to listen to the tortuous exercise of compiling jury instructions nor the constant barrage of motions. Andrew is excellent. By dividing up these responsibilities can give full attention to preparing for the next trial day.

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Karen Koehlerlawyer life, ride the ducks, motion
How Not to Depose 54 Defense Expert Witnesses
How Not to Depose 54 Defense Expert Witnesses

We are running out of time. As we march towards trial too many depositions remain to be taken. We ask the four defendants to narrow their list of experts. They do no such thing. They ignore us. We ask for their experts’ opinions. The defendants tell us they won’t have them until after their experts review all of our experts’ opinions and depositions.

There is no way we are going to take 54 defense expert witness depositions. Why should we.

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Karen Koehlerdeposition, ride the ducks
Ride the Ducks Trial Day 19: Dr. Kleweno
Ride the Ducks Trial Day 19: Dr. Kleweno

Wake up too early.  Go back to pretend sleep.  Lie there.  Perform countdown of how long it will all take.  Remember Alysha has gone to the cabin with Nala and the house is totally quiet.  No Nala to feed or take potty.  Or to laugh with.  Reduce countdown.  Thirty minutes later have donned black cream and red plaid slim slacks, red shirt with ruffles, favorite Boss black jacket and pointy toe heeled boots with tassles that swing back and forth. 

One of the challenges in representing 40 people in a mass disaster trial is to put on their medical damages cases without taking weeks and weeks.We have been streamlining the case not only since before trial began, but also during trial.

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Karen Koehlerride the ducks, direct exam, trial diaries
Ride the Ducks Trial Day 16: The Safety Director
Ride the Ducks Trial Day 16: The Safety Director

Jury is filing in.  Am standing off to the side to let them pass.  Realize still wearing sneakers.  Judge has noticed and chuckles.  Rush to chair.  Sit and buckle ankle straps of heels.  This looks better with stockings, black criss cross in the front bcbg skirt with raspberry toned red Moschino jacket over free people wildly batique-ish top with key hole neckline. Costume bangles accompanying apple watch.

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Karen Koehlerride the ducks, cross examination, trial diaries
Ride the Ducks Trial Day 14: Yuta
Ride the Ducks Trial Day 14: Yuta

Just spent a weekend in Lululemon and now it is time to get court ready again.  There have been times over the years where have resented having to figure out what to wear.  Including whether to repeat or not in a long trial.  But dressing up for court is really like putting on a costume for the big show.  There is a stage and audience and what we wear is a part of the whole process.  So for the most part, don’t whine.  Messages are being sent by what we wear in court.

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Karen Koehlerdirect exam, ride the ducks, trial diaries
Ride the Ducks Trial Day 13: A beloved mother
Ride the Ducks Trial Day 13: A beloved mother

Today’s uber driver is from Romania where everyone crushes grapes in vats at their homes. Some is saved as grape juice for the kids.  The rest is put in a bottle.  In 6 months there is good wine.   Better than you can get at Safeway.  He would like me to use uberXL versus uberX.  The numerous reasons range from the safer more superior status of his SUV to what difference does a few more bucks make if we are all going to die anyway. Drops me off.

Get through security without beeping.  Climb 9 flights.  Enter on the dot at 8:30 as ordered by the court so we can address pretrial matters.  8:45 Mr. Ulmer announced her honor will be arriving in 7 minutes.  Her bus has been delayed again.  She arrives.

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Karen Koehlerwrongful death, ride the ducks, trial diaries
Ride the Ducks Trial Day 11: Opening Statement
Ride the Ducks Trial Day 11: Opening Statement

Walk into courtroom with Alysha.  Most of law firm family have come to watch.  Clients many with co-counsel have arrived.  Some from around the world.    Press is establishing base camp in the rear.  As the minutes approach 9 the room fills. 

Put bags on the table.  Step out of tennies and into heels.  Walk behind 85” tv that is in front right corner of the room.  Breathe in and out.  Kevin the court reporter is setting up.  He says are you trying to avoid all the people.  Nod at him.  Smile.  Find center.

Judge Shaffer enters just before 9.  Jury comes in.  Sits.  Instructions are read.  Judge says:  now please turn your attention to the plaintiff for opening statement.

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Karen Koehlertrial diaries, ride the ducks, opening statement
October 1, 2018 through February 7, 2019
October 1, 2018 through February 7, 2019

Two weeks after Liam is born we start the Ride the Ducks Aurora Bridge trial. In the months leading up to the trial stop writing or discussing the case publicly. This includes to the media, to social media, to this blog.

The jurors will be instructed not to read, watch, or listen to anything about this case. They will not be reading this blog for example. So it is not quite clear how pretrial publicity especially in a civil case can be prejudicial if the lawyers talk to the media which the jurors will not be reading. Rather than debate the issue look to The Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC) 3.6.

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Karen Koehlertrial diaries, wrongful death, personal injury, ride the ducks
When a trial lawyer becomes a grandma
When a trial lawyer becomes a grandma

September 12, 2018

12.44 am Complete another deposition designation.

1:30 Conk out

7:00 Wake up. Today is marked off as a day I will not be working.

7:30 Return to computer on kitchen table and work. Massive trial paperwork deadlines due tomorrow.

9:00 Go for run with Nala because it is the only time that will be possible.

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Karen Koehlerfamily, women, lawyer life