I think it’s a recent add. My fairly high end 2018 tv got it as a software upgrade. Not sure if the random Vizios in his office will have it.
Being back at work sucks really really bad. Having to depose someone via zoom at 10AM first day back sucks really bad too. Trying to embrace the suck.
Georgia lawyers familiar with workers comp, I have a question (maybe up MORBO! ’s alley): How accessible are comp filings to the general public in Georgia. I have a spine surgery case I’m handling down here, but the plaintiff lives in Georgia and filed a prior workers comp claim based on a back injury and he’s now trying to downplay the severity of it. I’ve never accessed a comp court’s docket online before and was wondering if it was like pulling documents off the web like o do regularly in civil court filings.
I'm still quarantined and working from home. I would have been attending a docket call about 3 hours away, which would have been a much more awesome way to spend the day.
My partner just attended a Zoom hearing for a Broward County (Ft. Lauderdale) case and the civil circuit judge announced that Broward was very likely not going to have any in person civil jury trials until 2022.
Spent all afternoon yesterday at a beach side bar doing an intake eval on a huge train vs tractor-trailer collision. Went and threw the frisbee for about an hour, went swimming, got 5 tacos for 50 pesos ($2.50) for dinner and a 40oz Victoria. Came back and finished the evaluation, sent some emails at about 9:00 PM local time. It's the digital nomad life for me!
two of my employees straight up cannot get along over the dumbest shit ever. like not taking down messages properly and it's turned into a 6 week fight. about to sign them up for couples counseling and if that doesnt work i guess i just fire one of them? talked with a buddy who is a partner in a financial planning company and he's said they've had the same issue with female employees and their solution was to just have one work permanently from home. so fun. both of these girls are probably making something like 25-35% above market value in salaries and were bonused like $10k this year during a pandemic.
Gallant Knight RJF-GUMP and other guys involved in their firm's security/firewalls -- how much protection, etc. do yall have? I'm ignorant on most computer things, including security. But our IT guy is constantly updating our systems (it's shut down generally 2-3x/month for updates), and now we have an entirely new login procedure. When working remotely, we have to login to a VPN to our server in Seattle, and this now requires 2-factor authentication. As that wasn't enough, once we're logged into the VPN to access our system, to open Outlook we have do a separate 2-factor authentication. It's a tedious process to get into our system, even with good internet. If one part of this system disconnects, or has trouble communicating, the whole house of cards comes tumbling down and you have to re-start from the beginning. With shitty internet down in MX, makes it all the more difficult. Basically get internet connection for 5 minutes and try to download all documents I can so I can work offline, login to the system to check my email every hour or so. Maybe I'm naive to hackers and whatnot, but are law firms under constant threat of being breached? Are there hackers across the globe trying to access random defense firms' internal files? I get there's a bunch of protected information, and it doesn't need to be disseminated outside of litigation; but we're also not exactly dealing with national security here. /rant
trying to avoid firing someone during a pandemic. they are just totally not appreciable of the good situation they have and don't get along. not trying to act like i'm god's gift to being a boss, but there have been zero instances of yelling or anything and they work 40 hours a week and go home. maybe i'm jaded after coming from a couple of shitty working situations or something.
we definitely dont' have anything like that but we are a seven person firm. we just have a basic firewall and backup everything twice a month on some sort of remote storage thing that isn't connected to our system so if we do get hacked we just lose 10 days of work or whatever. i do know a couple of people who have got absolutely fucked by russian hackers who basically just stole their entire system and asked for a ton of bitcoin to give it back.
Yes, absolutely, law firms have long been targeted for exploitation of sensitive documents as the weak link due to comparatively weak IT security policies (the Panama Papers were obtained from a hack of a law firm, for example), and the ABA isn’t going to parse out what the duty to safeguard means by evaluating just how sensitive a client’s shit is.
My first step would be to discretely sit down with each separately and let them know that you're aware there is an interpersonal issue, that they need to be professional, etc. If you want to make them feel better you could come into the meeting with a small olive branch idea and/or solicit feedback from each of them as to how things could be improved. I don't think it would be wrong or a bad idea to tastefully remind them of the things you've done to take care of your employees and that weave that into your expectations of everyone being professional. You just don't want to come across as threatening or overbearing with that. I'd note in their file that you met with them, but don't think the first encounter merits a letter you have them sign or anything. Hopefully this makes them get their act together, if not, you can go forward with something more formal.
oh we are wayyy past that. i haven't told them that they have a badass situation here or anything, but both my associate and i have tried to sit down with them together and individually to address the situation. they're both good workers. if they were not that tight i would've just fired one.
Got it, nevermind then. You're going to have to decide what level of BS you're willing to deal with. Can't issue ultimatums you don't intend to back up, so short of that you're just left to deal with it, IMO.
just sent an email saying i'm organizing therapy that isn't optional. if i get push back from either of them i'm firing that person. if therapy doesn't work then i'm going to fire one of them. i didnt put that in the email but i'm guessing it's understood.
Spent a bunch of time negotiating on an MVA case with $2000 in meds today where the offer is $1500 and a workers comp case where we'll probably settle for $12,000. #bigshot #killingit
I got a letter today from a court reporter who recorded a deposition for me in July. Apparently, she wasn't licensed at the time. We have since settled the case and closed the file, but part of her disciplinary consent order requires her to refund her fees. So, I've got to figure out how to reimburse and insurance carrier $310.
Had one of those cross-examinations today where everything came together perfectly and precisely. Happens very rarely but man does it feel good when it happens.
Had a crazy lady trying to get at an estate that I withdrew from 3 years ago call 3 times and then barge into the office. I hid in my office and told my secretary to tell her I withdrew and also gave the name and phone number of lawyer that handles the estate. Pulled up the electronic docket and a restraining order had been filed because this lady has been bugging the shit out of everyone about this estate.
Deposit check in firm account to “safeguard in the event the check gets lost in the mail.” Send a check from your firm account to insurer. What happens from there is on them. If they never deposit it, after several years I’d just chalk it up as found money and keep it.
You are going to end up firing one of them. Save your money on therapy and figure out which one you want to keep. Document everything and let one go. Make sure the one that stays understands that this isn't a "win" over the other person.
All fun and games until the fired one claims workplace harassment. At least the therapy documents a good faith attempt to address any issues first.
This has been going on for months. If the situation is to the point they are bringing in a therapist there should be adequate cause for a termination. If he hasn't been documenting then he needs to start today.
I’m not worried about firing one of them. I don’t need a reason in Texas They’re both really good at their jobs and I just want them to get along and I am just pro therapy/counseling in general Hopefully it will help