As I have posted before our local bar has been dealing with an attorney who decided to apparently steal clients money, not do the work hired to do and just drop off the face of the earth. Well he is now in jail in another state - good for him.
Earlier in the week I discovered that he had forged a judges name to some divorce papers. Why in the world he would have done that is beyond me. The sad part is this lady thought she was divorced back in June and has since gotten remarried. Or at least she thought she was remarried. Oh what tangled mess this will be to straighted out. And I am doing it for free.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
I love MySpace
Since I have discovered MySpace it has made my life so much easier and enjoyable. I do not lie about things like this.
In my world everyone gets their ideas from TV. All lawyers use private investigators to get the goods on the other side. Ever notice how the P.I. fees and expenses are never mentioned? That is because it is very very expensive and often turns up very little information.
Enter MySpace. It amazes me what people will put on their pages, the "comment" conversations, photographs and blogs. MySpace is my first stop when I am checking out the other side or even my own client. Then I fall back to the other methods I have learned and developed.
And it is easy to find people as well - the people who set up a MySpace page under a "clever" screen name, but forgot that they used their real name in the "names" section or their normal email as the email address when they signed up. Duh.
Some examples of what I mean include:
1. The cheating spouse who proceeds to tell the world about this fresh wonderful relationship they are in, complete with pictures. It makes my job so easy. Oh and a news flash to all of you cheaters - under this states divorce law I DO NOT have to have photos of you having sex to prove adultery - your MySpace page is enough.
2. The bad parent who has all kinds of drug alcohol photos and references. Gotta love them. My favorite is the clearly underage mom who has her dirty diapered kid in one hand and a bottle of vodka in the other. The next picture on her page is of her with a bong.
3. I am in so much pain I can’t move after that accident dude who has photos of himself playing basketball was a winner. Thank you.
The list goes on and on, but you get the jest of it.
And If I find out things about my client you can damn sure bet I make them take it down ASAP (the vodka girl was my client BTW).
So besides the social networking skills, tons of money filling out surveys and hot toothless chicks I met on MySpace it really is a work tool. Or at least that I what I tell Billbert.
In my world everyone gets their ideas from TV. All lawyers use private investigators to get the goods on the other side. Ever notice how the P.I. fees and expenses are never mentioned? That is because it is very very expensive and often turns up very little information.
Enter MySpace. It amazes me what people will put on their pages, the "comment" conversations, photographs and blogs. MySpace is my first stop when I am checking out the other side or even my own client. Then I fall back to the other methods I have learned and developed.
And it is easy to find people as well - the people who set up a MySpace page under a "clever" screen name, but forgot that they used their real name in the "names" section or their normal email as the email address when they signed up. Duh.
Some examples of what I mean include:
1. The cheating spouse who proceeds to tell the world about this fresh wonderful relationship they are in, complete with pictures. It makes my job so easy. Oh and a news flash to all of you cheaters - under this states divorce law I DO NOT have to have photos of you having sex to prove adultery - your MySpace page is enough.
2. The bad parent who has all kinds of drug alcohol photos and references. Gotta love them. My favorite is the clearly underage mom who has her dirty diapered kid in one hand and a bottle of vodka in the other. The next picture on her page is of her with a bong.
3. I am in so much pain I can’t move after that accident dude who has photos of himself playing basketball was a winner. Thank you.
The list goes on and on, but you get the jest of it.
And If I find out things about my client you can damn sure bet I make them take it down ASAP (the vodka girl was my client BTW).
So besides the social networking skills, tons of money filling out surveys and hot toothless chicks I met on MySpace it really is a work tool. Or at least that I what I tell Billbert.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Law and Order: Family Law
What do you think? A new show by Dick Wolfe? Probably not, but a catchy little title anyway.
Last week was a pretty long and grueling week in the trenches of the war against morality and accountability.
It started off with a motion to dismiss a Petition for Order of Domestic Protection - also know as a retraining order. It never got heard - I win. The facts that mattered to the judge were simple - baby momma filed in MS for a Restraining Order saying she was afraid of baby daddy and was immediate danger. Baby Daddy is in TX and has never left the state of TX. See a problem? Yep - how can you be in fear of immediate danger from someone over 500 miles away? Case dismissed.
Next up was the deadbeat dad who failed to pay $37,000 in child support. His defense? Well he didn't have one. Judge wanted o put is ass in the can til he coughed up some money, but my client begged him not to. On the 19Th bub goes to the can unless he has made a large payment. I have $100 bucks saying he is in the joint for 12 hours tops. The Bailiff thinks more like 72 hours. we will see.
Then came the rather unusual matter of the VHS tapes and digital videos. I always like these for the squirm value. Seems the two love birds made quite a few little tapes of themselves doing all kind of things to each other and a third person. Well now the love is gone and dingle berry started emailing clips to her friends and putting them up online. So off we rush to court to protect her reputation. BTW I didn't know the ping pong ball thing was true. Of course we have to watch some of the videos so everyone has a idea of what we are talking about. This is never fun - to sit next to the star as she watches herself do things when you know she would rather not have anyone ever see the tape. besides it is never the hot trim cuties who make these videos. Won on that issue as well.
Lastly came Light Fingers McGee. She stole a $19 bottle of perfume from Gordmans. (You know that had to be some good smelling stuff.) Anyway, it cost her 48 hours in lockup and a fine of $300.00. The original offer was 30 days, then 6 months house arrest and $1000.00.
A good weeks work.
Last week was a pretty long and grueling week in the trenches of the war against morality and accountability.
It started off with a motion to dismiss a Petition for Order of Domestic Protection - also know as a retraining order. It never got heard - I win. The facts that mattered to the judge were simple - baby momma filed in MS for a Restraining Order saying she was afraid of baby daddy and was immediate danger. Baby Daddy is in TX and has never left the state of TX. See a problem? Yep - how can you be in fear of immediate danger from someone over 500 miles away? Case dismissed.
Next up was the deadbeat dad who failed to pay $37,000 in child support. His defense? Well he didn't have one. Judge wanted o put is ass in the can til he coughed up some money, but my client begged him not to. On the 19Th bub goes to the can unless he has made a large payment. I have $100 bucks saying he is in the joint for 12 hours tops. The Bailiff thinks more like 72 hours. we will see.
Then came the rather unusual matter of the VHS tapes and digital videos. I always like these for the squirm value. Seems the two love birds made quite a few little tapes of themselves doing all kind of things to each other and a third person. Well now the love is gone and dingle berry started emailing clips to her friends and putting them up online. So off we rush to court to protect her reputation. BTW I didn't know the ping pong ball thing was true. Of course we have to watch some of the videos so everyone has a idea of what we are talking about. This is never fun - to sit next to the star as she watches herself do things when you know she would rather not have anyone ever see the tape. besides it is never the hot trim cuties who make these videos. Won on that issue as well.
Lastly came Light Fingers McGee. She stole a $19 bottle of perfume from Gordmans. (You know that had to be some good smelling stuff.) Anyway, it cost her 48 hours in lockup and a fine of $300.00. The original offer was 30 days, then 6 months house arrest and $1000.00.
A good weeks work.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Back to work
Today I sit at my desk thinking about working. It is not much fun, but I can't think of an excuse to leave. Don't get me wrong, I have a ton of excuses to leave the office early. the most common one is I am going to the federal building to review my clients immigration files. No today I cant use an excuse because 1) I have a 4:30 appointment and 2) I used one Thursday so I could get a jump on my New Orleans trip.
I love New Orleans and have missed her greatly. Prior to Katrina I went on a regular basis - even considered moving there after law school to work for the MAN. Or a Big law firm. It did not happen, but my love affair with the city did not die. I love the music, the food, Dixie beer and the general feel for how life moves there. The varied styles of jazz and blues drifting over the streets create an atmosphere like no other.
I honestly could never set foot on Bourbon street again and be happy but yet I am drawn there to people watch as much as anything else. Having said that I recently found Maison Bourbon - a true jazz club on Bourbon. I guess all these years I just walked past it thinking it was another Fat Catz or Cats Meow. I was wrong. If you like Jazz don't make the same mistake.
I was glad to see that the parts of the city I spent time in are coming back. There are still signs of the damage around and many parts of the city may never recover. As you get away from the Quarter for every two shops that were open, there was one boarded up.
Many of the restaurants are open with at least partial menus. If you want to wait tables, tend bar or just work "help wanted" signs abound. I was tempted to just throw in the towel and get to cracking open bottles of Abita and Dixie for the tourists and locals alike, but I am too chicken to start over again.
I can't wait to go back. Until then Beale St. and Clarksdale will have to do.
I love New Orleans and have missed her greatly. Prior to Katrina I went on a regular basis - even considered moving there after law school to work for the MAN. Or a Big law firm. It did not happen, but my love affair with the city did not die. I love the music, the food, Dixie beer and the general feel for how life moves there. The varied styles of jazz and blues drifting over the streets create an atmosphere like no other.
I honestly could never set foot on Bourbon street again and be happy but yet I am drawn there to people watch as much as anything else. Having said that I recently found Maison Bourbon - a true jazz club on Bourbon. I guess all these years I just walked past it thinking it was another Fat Catz or Cats Meow. I was wrong. If you like Jazz don't make the same mistake.
I was glad to see that the parts of the city I spent time in are coming back. There are still signs of the damage around and many parts of the city may never recover. As you get away from the Quarter for every two shops that were open, there was one boarded up.
Many of the restaurants are open with at least partial menus. If you want to wait tables, tend bar or just work "help wanted" signs abound. I was tempted to just throw in the towel and get to cracking open bottles of Abita and Dixie for the tourists and locals alike, but I am too chicken to start over again.
I can't wait to go back. Until then Beale St. and Clarksdale will have to do.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Outcome of the recusal hearings
This in the story as printed by the DeSoto Times about the Judges hearing from Tuesday. I was surprised to learn that a motion can be squashed, but that is only one a many factual errors in the story. Maybe it is just me but I detect a little bias on the part of the Times.
Here is a link to the newspaper article about the hearing yesterday from the Desoto Appeal.
The funny thing is I was there for each of the witnesses that testified, but didnt get eh same impression the reporter is giving. One big important part left out from the Court administrators testimony was that the morning after the "bunk mate" comment, the attoreneys called the Judge to get him to hire them in in divorce. That changes the context just a bit doesn't it? There are other shadings to this that were left out of the story and some of the things have to be put into the context of the general lack of formality and over familiar way ths court system operates. Oh well.
a bit of triva - Randy Garner is "supposed" to be the basis for the Harry Rex charactor in John Grishams books. And yes this county is part of his fictious Ford/Clanton counties.
Here is a link to the newspaper article about the hearing yesterday from the Desoto Appeal.
The funny thing is I was there for each of the witnesses that testified, but didnt get eh same impression the reporter is giving. One big important part left out from the Court administrators testimony was that the morning after the "bunk mate" comment, the attoreneys called the Judge to get him to hire them in in divorce. That changes the context just a bit doesn't it? There are other shadings to this that were left out of the story and some of the things have to be put into the context of the general lack of formality and over familiar way ths court system operates. Oh well.
a bit of triva - Randy Garner is "supposed" to be the basis for the Harry Rex charactor in John Grishams books. And yes this county is part of his fictious Ford/Clanton counties.
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