It matters a lot. Are you a Roger Federer type or Novak Djokovic? Some people are just very genuine, approachable, and likeable people. Others are not. Most of us are somewhere in between. But, those likeable guileless people are going to get a better settlement for the same case. Why? Well, more than likely the deposition displayed the plaintiff as …
What happens When You Win a Motion for Summary Judgment or What I did this weekend on my way to Tenerife?
Tenerife you say? I had a chance to go visit the Canary Islands over the Labor Day holiday weekend and Tenerife is one of the largest and most visited islands in the chain. It’s a long but entertaining story. Anyway, the Islands are a bit like Europe’s Caribbean, I think. Beautiful, volcanic islands off the coast of Africa and …
The Trump Situation: One Case Is Usually Too Much for your average client.
Again, regardless of your political position, as a lawyer, it is simply incomprehensible to think of a single client trying to handle all of these different, bet the farm type cases going on in the same calendar year. Many of my clients are normal, everyday folk, who work for a living, raise their families, support their kids and parents, go …
The Constitutional Challenge to Donald Trump being on the ballot in Pennsylvania
I think it is safe to say that Trump’s eligibility as a candidate will be challenged. There was a long article by Judge Luttig in the Federalist magazine of all places making the case for Trump being disqualified under the 14th Amendment’s disqualification clause for those who aided, abetted, or gave comfort to insurrection, when they had previously sworn an …
How Does Where You Live Affect Your Ability to Obtain Justice/Vengeance
This is a weird self-perpetuating conundrum. If you live in a rural venue, the quality of justice you will receive is far less rewarding than you would receive for the identical event in Philly or Pittsburgh. Outside the major cities in Pennsylvania, voters are fairly conservative or far less democratic and hence liberal in their views. This more conservative bent …
Things That We Should Change
The state minimum insurance coverage is $15,000. This has not changed for years and is simply unfair to 75% of my clients. Limited tort is simply a scam crafted by the insurers. Don’t have this on your auto insurance. Fetterman should wear a suit to the Senate. I have to wear a suit to Court. I got chastised recently for …
FTCA UPDATE: Andrew Neuwirth at the Supreme Court? I hope not
I think that among the long list of things that I do not want to do as a lawyer is be involved in a US Supreme Court case. While many lawyers would relish the opportunity to argue there, I think that it is not a good place for personal injury cases and I could see wasting a tremendous amount of …
STATE vs. FEDERAL COURT VENUE/JURISDICTION DECISION
“COMBAT TACTICS, MR. RYAN” from The Hunt For Red October starring Sean Connery and Alec Baldwin: Jones (VO): Torpedo in the water. High speed screws. Bearing zero-two-zero. I estimate range at eight thousand yards. Mancuso: You’re heading straight into that torpedo. Ramius: I know. The torpedo hits the sub, but it does not explode. Instead, it breaks-up on the …
Judge Aileen Cannon, Justices Alito, Thomas et al.: How are Judges Managed, Disciplined, Controlled in our Legal System?
One of the fascinating outgrowths of the Trump presidency was the realization that much of what we take for granted as lawyers and citizens was based upon abiding by long-established norms. So, for example, the president would not bash his own civil servants or judges would be policed by their brethren or superiors. Even judges have bosses. But, post-Trump, things …
LAWYER CONUNDRUMS: JUDGE AILEEN CANNON/ BAD LUCK / DEAL WITH IT
So, there is a lot of bellyaching about Judge Cannon being assigned to Trump’s case about hiding classified documents. If she was assigned as most cases are by random computer assignment, then it si just bad luck. But, that is why we have trials. You have to prove your case. Innocent till proven guildty and all that, no matter how …