Of Ferrets and Fools
Sunday, April 20, 2008 at 03:00
Posted by Marcel Strigberger
For me this was the week that was.
The case of my career knocked on my office the other day. A client bought two ferrets from a local pet shop for about $800. The weasel like creatures came with a 15 day guarantee. Needless to say, both ferrets died within a couple of days. Honourable client returned the dead ferrets to the pet shop and the manager, actually the "small pet specialty manager", collected the deceased ferrets and told my client he would be in touch. A few days later he sent my client a letter claiming that he had the late ferrets examined by a veterinarian who conducted autopsies. Said veterinarian certifies that the ferrets died of stress. He adds that no doubt it must have been my client who caused the stress leading to the ferrets’ demise. Ergo the guaranty was void.
So far the pet store manager is refusing to send the client a copy of the report of the post mortem. I know I am going to have fun with this one. I still don’t know how that vet came to the conclusion that my client caused the premature expiry of those ferrets. But I am beginning to wonder whether pathologist Dr. Charles Smith has landed a new job.
And this was not a good week for Adam Reposa. Adam is a lawyer in Austin, Texas who got hit with 90 days for contempt. His crime? He supposedly made a lewd gesture towards a female judge, to wit, he simulated masturbation.
Give me a break. Can’t a lawyer use his hands anymore to drive home a point?
Then again, I am not impressed with Adam Reposa’s explanation either. In his defence, Adam insisted the gesture was directed not at the judge but at the prosecutor standing nearby. Like that’s OK?
The case of my career knocked on my office the other day. A client bought two ferrets from a local pet shop for about $800. The weasel like creatures came with a 15 day guarantee. Needless to say, both ferrets died within a couple of days. Honourable client returned the dead ferrets to the pet shop and the manager, actually the "small pet specialty manager", collected the deceased ferrets and told my client he would be in touch. A few days later he sent my client a letter claiming that he had the late ferrets examined by a veterinarian who conducted autopsies. Said veterinarian certifies that the ferrets died of stress. He adds that no doubt it must have been my client who caused the stress leading to the ferrets’ demise. Ergo the guaranty was void.
So far the pet store manager is refusing to send the client a copy of the report of the post mortem. I know I am going to have fun with this one. I still don’t know how that vet came to the conclusion that my client caused the premature expiry of those ferrets. But I am beginning to wonder whether pathologist Dr. Charles Smith has landed a new job.
And this was not a good week for Adam Reposa. Adam is a lawyer in Austin, Texas who got hit with 90 days for contempt. His crime? He supposedly made a lewd gesture towards a female judge, to wit, he simulated masturbation.
Give me a break. Can’t a lawyer use his hands anymore to drive home a point?
Then again, I am not impressed with Adam Reposa’s explanation either. In his defence, Adam insisted the gesture was directed not at the judge but at the prosecutor standing nearby. Like that’s OK?
Texas Rules of Civility and Professional Conduct, section 43 2(k):
It is forbidden to make masturbating gestures at a judge; however such gestures are proper when directed at the prosecutor.Enjoy your vacation Adam.
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