same here. I fear being the newest associate and therefore the most expendable during potential lean times. But I imagine we start working from home in the next week or two
Just shut my office down after having somebody coughing all over the place this morning. I’ll probably work from office, because I can’t get much done at home with kids running around, but no clients coming through door. Going to be some lean times on a small town office that relies on customer traffic.
Kentucky court systems effectively shut down last week, and now seems like the SSA is finally shutting down. I've been in crowded hearing lobbies for the past couple of weeks, and my clients/people at these hearings are all elderly/disabled. Perplexed they haven't officially canceled all hearings yet. I'm the associate attorney at a solo practice, and my boss is going to lay off most of his staff and have them go on unemployment, with only 3-4 "essential" employees working from home. Getting pretty fucked.
My juvenile court has essentially cancelled all court except for probable cause emergency hearings for at least the next couple of weeks. Working for the largest state agency guarantees I get paid no matter what, but it’s gonna be a cluster fuck if someone in our complex gets a confirmed case.
We aren't telling anyone that they have to come to work. If an employee came to me and said they didn't feel safe and they wanted to work from home I'd tell them they can. I'd also expect them to be getting something done from home. We have Clio and Google Drive File Stream so all files are electronic. Also we have an app where we can transfer calls from the office to the cells of folks that are working from home and essentially their cell functions the same way an office phone would in terms of transfers, and it doesn't allow the caller to find out your personal cell. I have a paralegal working from home. We are telling potential clients that we'd prefer to conduct initial meetings over the phone and try to sign them up through docusign. We wipe down the office several times each day and have hand sanitizer sitting out everywhere. Courts in some of the local counties announced today they are shutting down. I don't think we're going to lock down unless the government makes us.
Just had one of the more interesting exchanges in my legal career. Some context: The 3 week trial I recently concluded was a hell of a set of facts. Defendant (my client) was or was not street racing in a suburb south of Seattle; but regardless was going 65 in a 30 mph zone. He has admits to speeding, but denies he was racing. He admits there was street racing going on, but claims he was leaving the scene because someone called the cops. I think he was racing. This is all at about 2:00 AM on a Friday night/Sat morning. While he was driving so fast, Plaintiff and two passengers are traveling in the opposite direction, going to watch the street races. Plaintiff's vehicle makes an illegal left turn in front of my client's vehicle, my client t-bones their passenger side at high rate of speed. My client had the right of way, Plaintiff's turn was illegal, but our guy was also traveling about twice the speed limit. Lots of blame to go around. One passenger is ejected from Plaintiff's vehicle and dies at scene. Other passenger in that vehicle suffered soft tissue injuries, and alleged TBI. The driver of Plaintiff's vehicle blew a .08 three hours after the accident. His car was also littered with beer bottles. Plaintiff/driver is charged with vehicular homicide and serves 2 years in prison for the other passenger dying. Fast forward to this trial -- the passenger that suffered injuries files suit against my client. Later, the incarcerated driver also files suit (he has no alleged injuries and has received zero treatment to date). Decedent's estate settled prior to trial. Passenger/Plaintiff already settled with Plaintiff/driver prior to trial. Due to vehicular homicide conviction, Plaintiff/driver was negligent as a matter of law. Trial goes, and Plaintiffs (and their Counsel) just make fools of themselves. Abrasive on the stand, laughing at myself and my partner during cross-examination, etc. Were chastised by the judge several times throughout trial. During close, plaintiff/driver asks for $1.5 Mil, other passenger asks for $4 Mil. Jury comes back with $0 recovery for Plaintiff/driver, and $25K for other passenger. Our last offer was for $100K. Counsel for the other passenger just called me on the phone (intentionally called me rather than the senior partner that did all the heavy lifting at trial). Tells me that if we don't pay our policy limits by the close of business today, he is going to the Prosecutor's Office and is going to encourage them to re-open a homicide investigation into my client for causing the Decedent's death -- despite Plaintiff driver already pleading guilty and serving time. I told him I'm pretty sure that's unethical, and borderline extortion. He then blows up on me and accuses me of concealing the truth, calls me every name under the sun. I again tell him what he's doing is incredibly improper and quickly ended the conversation. He just sent another email demanding policy limits or he's going to the prosecutor's office -- put it all in writing. I've just forwarded it to the powers-that-be in our office, but I have to assume he is being referred to the bar. What a dumbass.
FWIW I spoke with a JAG attorney (on top of the local WA one) and the JAG attorney’s opinion is that the more specific first statue is what the judge would likely go with and in his experience most attorneys and therefore judges understand that a WA lease longer than a year requires a notary. Trying to decide how much I feel like fighting for one month’s rent.
Opposing counsel will not agree to take the deposition of my expert located in Wisconsin via videoconference. I'm not about to go through an airport and get on an airplane.
Thanks, although I really didn't do much. Got put on the case a few days before trial, cross one chiropractor and two witnesses. Otherwise sat there and looked important.
Just put a sign on your door that says “infected with coronavirus” and stay an extra month. #lifehack
I don’t think that would go over well with a judge. although you’re in MS and this is probably all a big demoncrap hoax to most of your judges.
we had an opposing counsel oppose a motion to cancel an in person mediation yesterday. The judge granted it but I was pretty surprised that they wouldn’t just consent
I started to tell him that but decided to try to reason with him and be diplomatic about it. If he continues to insist I'm going to have to file a motion.
I'd love to be able to get stuff done. I had depos set in several of my biggest cases and moved them all. From a Plaintiff's side, this puts us at a disadvantage because we can't move anything forward and there's going to be an even bigger financial strain on our clients. but none of this shit matters in comparison to the real world right now. I cannot fathom someone being a big enough asshole to refuse to cancel or move something and this is coming from someone who is typically an asshole.
we’re the sideshow to a long running dispute. Lots of animosity but still I had to shake my head. The moving party is a couple 70 year olds that are self quarantining. I just didn’t see how you thought this would be helpful to oppose
Yeah, I’m in a case with 17 plaintiffs, 9 Defendants. We represent all Plaintiffs, but each Defendant has its own counsel. It has been a nightmare getting depos scheduled. Finally have the 14th and 15th Plaintiffs set for April 16th. I hate to postpone, but I cannot imagine being in a position to do much. Really need to keep the case moving, like Sammy Meatballs said, not being able to move cases really sucks for a Plaintiff’s lawyer. Any adjusters who want a good deal get up with me on some of my soft tissue wreck cases! I need some cash flow.
My office is doing a skeleton crew rotation. One attorney and one para in the office in any given day to answer the phone. I’m home today but partner said there’s been one phone call today. It’s usually non-stop. I had a plea hearing this morning. The Sheriff wouldn’t let me in the courthouse before calling the division to confirm I had a hearing set. I believe we were the only case going in downtown Kansas City. The judge said he thinks it’ll be like this until June. It’s going to be lean times for a while here.
only person in my office, but I'm just reading tmb and sending video's to group text of myself calling and confirming that Golden Coral buffet's are actually open
just got an email saying to ensure you have Microsoft teams downloaded to your computer and phone. Doubt we are in the office starting next week
I guess she could. Things may change next week. We're still just flying by the seat of our pants with all this.
You realize how much office drop-ins hurt productivity when they start coming via emails. Gee, miss associate, why don't you start by looking at the statute?
It’s even worse when it’s your two year old wanting to play. We’ve been working from home since Monday. The biggest challenge for me so far has been dealing with the interruptions. I’ve basically been spreading out my work in 2-3 hour increments which is not ideal at all. Most productive very early in the morning.
My wife works in cancer research and has been working from home this week with our 9 month old. She basically works when he naps which is around 4 hours a day and then works from 7-11 or midnight after he’s in bed. I can’t imagine having to work from home and start/stop/start again. I’d rather come into the office and shut my door and IM my legal assistants.
It is not ideal that's for sure. I would much prefer to go to the office but they have been pretty adamant about staying home. I have no illusion that this will be over in two weeks either.
Did a video mediation today. Um/UIM case. Low impact. No treatment since 2019. 15k total meds with none outstanding. Small disc herniation with some degenerative changes. Underlying tendered 10k and she has 10k in pip. UM policy limits are 50. Opening demand? 250k Didn't know Gallant Knight was practicing in Florida now
I'm trying to set up video conference depositions for next week. I am getting significant pushback from opposing counsel. This entire thing is a defense lawyer's wet dream. I'm going forward unless the judge tells me I can't.
Same -- I would much rather bill for flying across the country rather than miss that time and do it telephonically.
If you're not billing, you're not generating revenue. Defense firms typically have a lot higher overhead in payroll, so anyone who views this as a positive is a fucking moron.
it's going to be impossible to move anything forward. because I just recently started with a new firm after my semi-retirement, all of my cases are recently filed. Due to the order from the Georgia Supreme Court, I can't even get written discovery responses. A couple defense lawyers have been reasonable human beings and we've continued exchanging stuff, but the defense lawyers on a couple of my bigger premises cases won't even respond to an email, much less discovery. So now after the 30 days expires on the order (assuming it's not extended, which I bet it will be) I get to then get a set of discovery responses with nonsense objections that I'll have to file a motion to compel on, then get hearing time when every court is going to be backlogged forever because of the stay. Then I can start taking depositions. I'm guessing it pushes back the timeline for potentially resolving any substantial case by at least 6 months.