- Quickdraw McLaw
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“The tradition of Festivus begins with the Airing of Grievances. I got a lot of problems with you people! And now, you’re gonna hear about it.” –Frank Costanza
Happy Festivus! Gather your family, friends, co-workers, enemies, judges, opposing counsel, etc. because it’s time to kick off the long holiday weekend with a tradition that some of you do on the blog all year long, the Airing of Grievances!
For some of you, this is what you were born to do–this is your moment to shine. Your gift of complaining is finally welcomed and wanted on this one occasion. This is your chance to civilly (meaning work appropriate and slander free) whine and complain about your salary, your job, your boss, the courts, nepotism, the Board of Governors, bar counsel, UNLV Boyd Class of 2013, this blog, and/or anything else that 2020 threw at you this year. It’s also your chance to provide some feedback about the way things are done in the Las Vegas legal community. Believe it or not, there are a lot of people who read this blog and see your comments and suggestions (including administrators, judges, and other lawyers). If you want a refresher on what types of things you were disappointed in or complained about last year, use the search box and enter “airing.”
Legal staff comment here – sorry it isn't on theme, but a sincere thank you to all the moles and trolls who make things WORK and get things done behind the scenes. From the reporting service that finds a way to change my emergencies into routine customer service, to the legal assistant who sends me Word copies, to the office services people who race to the last FedEx open on town, it has been a rough year but you've made it work.
Here's to a happy holiday season and a new year full of promise!
Attorneys are a dime a dozen. A really good paralegal is worth his/her weight in gold.
A big hug to all the paralegals and support staff who make the practice of law possible!
I agree to a point. "A really good paralegal is worth his/her weight in gold." Except every staff member thinks that they are that really good paralegal and they are not. Compensation for legal staff is like compensation for QBs in the NFL– there are a few elite and yet everyone wants to be paid like they are elite. Insanity.
Interesting analogy.
I thought I knew a paralegal that was worth his/her weight in gold. I made arrangements for that paralegal to be hired at my new firm with a pay raise. Then, that paralegal turned on me and threw me under the bus in an attempt to score points with a name partner. It was really disappointing.
My grievance: All of you who pollute this blog with politics and crazy rants. You all have divested me of any thoughts that lawyers are intelligent.
SISOHACK deserves it!
Your "thoughts" were unreasonable to begin with. The ability to attend law school and pass the bar exam are, at best, weak predictors of intelligence. And they are not predictors of judgment, discretion, or decency.
I have met the enemy, and it is us…
Let's be real. The craziest of the crazies on here are probably not lawyers.
9:33-spoken like a Sisohack fan.
The results of the judicial elections are a a sad joke and will make our lives difficult for years to come. We now will have the weakest District Court bench we've had in the 25 years I've been in practice. And that is saying something given some of the buffoons who've been on the bench during that time. Some of these losers should really do some self evaluation before slapping their names on the ballot. Real people and real businesses will rely on these clowns. And competence will be lacking.
Let's not be vague. Which new judges will be the worst, and why?
I don't know any of them, so I'd be interested to hear objective opinions from those who do. On the bright side, maybe this will make the appellate courts busy enough that they'll need a second COA panel, and I'll be able to get that semi-retirement job I've always dreamed of.
8:08AM I second yours.
8:32AM Several recent interactions with one of the new judges winding down private practice. Her judicial temperment will include a "know it all" shit show, a healthy amount of condescension and a horrible demeanor.
Also, Joe Biden stole the election. Dems are dishonest. Sisolak has #sisolaked all small business in Nevada.
But we told you that about Nadin before the election and apparently the electorate was not listening.
Adam Laxalt. Still sick of that guy.
Trump Lite
Another year and my penis is still small. My testicles, however, seem to be growing/drooping and this is causing some awkward situations on the toilet.
9:23, just be pleased if you are not urinating all night and don't have prostate problems.
December 23, 2020 at 10:35 AM – Sadly, what you said. Growing old isn't for sissies. However doing so successfully is no excuse for constantly bugging your 64 year old son to lose weight. Are you hearing me Dad?!?!?!
9:23 — Nice visual, but WTMI. So much for a pleasant Xmas, but thanks for sharing.
I wish I was taller.
Neener, neener!
I wish I was a baller.
Sorry 9:35, my wife is a slut.
Can confirm, 12:05's wife is a slut.
I don't appreciate being shamed for getting my freak on.
Sincerely, 12:05's wife
Sly Seinfeld references yall. I can't find my receipt, my place is a sty.
My former coworker who ragged on our boss all year for cutting our pay due to the pandemic, then quit to take a job at another firm, left me with all the crap she didn't do but said she did…and couldn't even leave us with the status of the cases that she was working on and then bragged about her new job and how good she is at it. On the other hand, thank you to my fellow former co-worker … for leaving, as we all got our pay back plus some extra, work is so more enjoyable without her and my boss saved money by not having to pay her salary and gave it to the employees as an additional bonus…
just brilliant…
The casual indifference with which the terms service and execution are used interchangeably by so many in the legal community drives me to absolutely apologetic levels of binge doughnut eating. Very ugly to watch an entire box of Entenmann's Softies disappear in less than 20 minutes…
My grievance: Too many maroons marooning.
Great call back. Hopefully some soft minded maroon will not label "maroon" as politically incorrect and raise a stink.
How DARE you malign the great R.K. Maroon, founder of the legendary Maroon Cartoon Studios! I am shocked, shocked I say!
Can we get R.K. Maroon a little credit for having the foresight to draft a will? Even if it's going to be tied up in Acme County Probate Court, at least he put something down.
Go and do thou likewise, regardless of your age.
Those Boyd 2013s that keep kicking everyone's asses, mine included.
Explain please for those of us out of the loop.
You do not pass Go and you do not collect $200
They continue to set the legal world afire.
11:25 and 12:10 – Non-responsive
Clark County District Court judge that believes US Supreme Court decisions regarding federal statutes are not applicable in Nevada. Are you frigging kidding me?
Name Please…
I have seen this a few times. It is amazing that state judges don't understand the Ninth Circuit and SCOTUS are mandatory authority as to federal law, even when a state court is applying that law.
Justice Thomas believes that only SCOTUS binds in that situation, not the Ninth Circuit (which could be suspect in a circuit split situation if history is any guide). As I recall, the NSC did not follow 9th Circuit precedent on facial due process for HOA superprority, Borne VAlley?
The NSC rejected the Ninth Circuit's interpretation of Nevada law as to whether NRS 116 auctions required notice to lienholders. The NSC did not reject the Ninth Circuit's construction of federal due process.
Yeah, I see your point how it was a state law interpretation as well, but the state in law in that case was really the facts that plug into a federal question: due process. But that being said, if you interpret the state law in a way that changes the facts underlying that due process analysis…
Ninth Circuit opinions do not bind NSC, even on matters of federal law. Only the U.S. Supreme Court can issue opinions binding on the states.
I have seen NSC voluntarily follow a Ninth Circuit decision because otherwise a plaintiff would win or lose depending on whether he was in state or federal court. But that was NSC's choice, it wasn't mandatory.
Had a group of seasoned attorneys leave the firm and leave their cases for the rest of us to deal with. Upon leaving, we discovered that they were screwed up and horribly managed in any number of ways. So bad that there were legitimate concerns about mal practice suits. Luckily, so far, we have been able to fix most of them and put out the various fires. It is incredibly annoying when you run your cases well and then have to step into a shitshow of someone else's creation. Just time and time again we have run into some aspect that was either neglected, or done in a strange way. It has made 2020 worse. End of rant.
I don't know that I have a grievance, but I have a concern about the future of the practice of law. Even after the pandemic, many hearings will be conducted by video conference. This brings many benefits. We don't spend time driving to and from RJC, nor do we stand in the elevator line. We can work on other matters while we wait for our cases to be called. I happen to like the share screen feature for exhibits and evidence.
Still, there is value in being present with opposing counsel. Those in-person interactions humanize us to each other. They make us less likely to "be a dick" than if our interactions are predominantly electronic. I fear a worsening of professionalism between counsel because of this. The similarity is Congress. While Congress has never been ideal, things are much worse now than 20 years ago because Congresspeople do not interact or socialize with each other anymore. Everyone is silo'd off in their own respective media and electronic bunkers. I fear that is where our practice is going.
To piggy-back off this, a Note to Younger Attorneys (<5 years?):
I know working from home is awesome for so many reasons; I am enjoying it myself. But please realize and understand that you are losing out on so, so much learning and growth by not having that in-office/person interaction with your more senior peers and colleagues. Those 5 minute chats in the hallway about how so and so judge usually rules? Those 15 minute lookovers that more senior associates used to give your work product just because your offices are next to each other's? Those 30 minute vent sessions by partners about how difficult so and so client is being that you were able to overhear in the lunchroom? All of that is invaluable to your growth as a young lawyer. That is gone for the time and who knows when it will be back. So it's on you to get creative about how to make that time and experience up. I know you can do it. It's just going to require that you not sit back and get complacent with the WFH situation.
Signed, Old-Fuddy-Duddy Partner
I can't believe Mary Perry will be a Family District Court judge. Maybe she will be good. I voted for that Romeo guy too. He was always nice to me in cases. It could be the cute socks he wears.
Antonio Montana said it best…"you're all a bunch of f****** a*******!" Happy Holidays!!
Nevada Supreme Court for sucking.
and not finishing the job!
Here's one final kick in the teeth from 2020 (although I shouldn't speak too soon since we still have a week or so to go). Many of you may have known Chris Curtis, an attorney here for about 30 years, and longtime partner with the Thorndal, Armstrong firm. He was diagnosed with ALS about six years ago, and passed away yesterday. Please give a thought to his family this holiday season.
This is devastating to hear. I'll pour out a craft brew in his honor.
2020 has been a right proper bastard.
Greeting cards have gotten too damn specific. I wanted to get a Christmas card for my neighbors and a birthday card for my cousin.
There are lots of cards, but most of them are categories as "for son," "for mom," "for grandmother, from family," "for uncle's second wife, from the dog," etc.
I found a card that would be perfect for my cousin's birthday, except that it starts with "Dear Daughter…"
Holy shit, I just want a generic card that's not too sappy, not religious, and not too stupid. Too much to ask I guess.
Sounds like your last minute trip to CVS was unfruitful.
I've found some decent cards at the 99 cent store. Maybe look there?
3:47 — Food for thought: next time, buy a blank card and write what you want to say on the inside. Stop depending on anonymous greeting card writers to express what you want to say to the person you care about. A handwritten warm personal thought still beats the best Hallmark Shakespeare.
My grandma, who I loved and still love very much but has been gone for more than a decade, always gave me cash but with those realllllly sappy cards. Yeah, had to read them out loud in front of the family too when it was my time to open a gift.
Why are festivus remarks being removed?