Took an ambien like 3 hours ago and still can't sleep. Yea, what?!? Y'ALL CAN'T MEDICATE ME, BITCHES!!! I'm gonna sleep when I'm damn well ready!!!
New approach is working great! I'm not giving an inch with these guys, and they're not screwing with me anymore. I did send them a nasty e-mail this morning, because they accused us of purposely sending a package to a wrong address. Actual quotes from the e-mail: "Maybe where you guys practice, people do these kinds of things on purpose, but down here, that's not how we practice. . .. But I'm not surprised that you two would think we did this on purpose. If I practiced the way you do, I'd be paranoid about these things too."
Yea, I know, I don't need to sink to their level. But it actually made me feel great to get a jab in, and I was able to get back and focus on my work. Hey, why should I always be the nice and let these guys be dicks? Screw em! The tough guy approach seems to work. They've backed off, and I can just concentrate on my case, which is coming together really nicely.
Client is calming down too, and hassling me a lot less. Everyone is more relaxed and focused, and we're really putting things together. I feel very comfortable going into this thing now.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
revelation
Today had the potential to be a really bad day. The day started with the news that my legal assistant / document coordinator is out with a cold. Of course it's bad enough not having her for one day, but I'm not sure how long she's going to be out, and these next three days are going to be crucial trial prep days, where we're going to have to pour over the documents and make sure we know everything inside and out.
Fortunately, I had a nice conversation with a mentor of mine, about how to approach this trial. Without getting into all of the details, it helped me set aside my rage and focus on what's important. (Don't get me wrong, the rage is still there ... I still hate these guys with a passion. I'm just repressing it temporarily for the greater good.) The greater good, of course, requires me to be cool, calm and collected, and to go into this trial with a clear mind.
I also started to let go of the weight I've been carrying around for the past few weeks. The pressure of having my work affect someone's life in such a dramatic way was really getting to me. Today I realized that I don't need to take all that on. The fact is that I can control only one thing - my performance. I've busted my ass for the past few months, trying to prepare to win this case. Now I just have to go in there and do my best. If that's good enough, great. If it's not, there's really nothing I can do to change that. History has shown that when I put myself in a position to win, I usually do. Hopefully this will be another one of those times.
This all sounds way too dramatic, by the way. I hate taking myself, or anything I do, so seriously. Stupid real trial ... taking the mock out of my life!
Fortunately, I had a nice conversation with a mentor of mine, about how to approach this trial. Without getting into all of the details, it helped me set aside my rage and focus on what's important. (Don't get me wrong, the rage is still there ... I still hate these guys with a passion. I'm just repressing it temporarily for the greater good.) The greater good, of course, requires me to be cool, calm and collected, and to go into this trial with a clear mind.
I also started to let go of the weight I've been carrying around for the past few weeks. The pressure of having my work affect someone's life in such a dramatic way was really getting to me. Today I realized that I don't need to take all that on. The fact is that I can control only one thing - my performance. I've busted my ass for the past few months, trying to prepare to win this case. Now I just have to go in there and do my best. If that's good enough, great. If it's not, there's really nothing I can do to change that. History has shown that when I put myself in a position to win, I usually do. Hopefully this will be another one of those times.
This all sounds way too dramatic, by the way. I hate taking myself, or anything I do, so seriously. Stupid real trial ... taking the mock out of my life!
T minus 4 days
Legal assistant / document coordinator sick today. Really? Is this happening with 4 days left before trial?
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Scumbags!!!
I'm furious! The attorney on the other side had agreed with me that we were going to arrange for a court reporter. Today, he changed his story and pretended like we had never made any such agreement, and the arbitrator denied my request to get a court reporter. The court reporter itself isn't a big deal. The major reason we wanted one was to get these guys for perjury after the case was over.
But really, I'm furious for two reasons. First, we've looked terrible so far. We've been sloppy, unorganized, unfocused and unpolished. So we've made a terrible impression on the arbitrator. Second, these guys are the most disgusting people I've ever tried a case against. From the clients to the lawyers, every one of them. And I've been trying to take the high road all along, but to hell with that!
So that's it, no more Mr. Nice Guy! I'm out for blood!!! I don't give a damn what I do or how I do it, but I'm taking these guys down.
But really, I'm furious for two reasons. First, we've looked terrible so far. We've been sloppy, unorganized, unfocused and unpolished. So we've made a terrible impression on the arbitrator. Second, these guys are the most disgusting people I've ever tried a case against. From the clients to the lawyers, every one of them. And I've been trying to take the high road all along, but to hell with that!
So that's it, no more Mr. Nice Guy! I'm out for blood!!! I don't give a damn what I do or how I do it, but I'm taking these guys down.
T minus 5 days
Wednesday, 12:49pm
ALL MEN HAVE FEARS, BUT THE BRAVE PUT DOWN THEIR FEARS AND GO FORWARD, SOMETIMES TO DEATH, BUT ALWAYS TO VICTORY!
ONWARD!!!!!!!!
ALL MEN HAVE FEARS, BUT THE BRAVE PUT DOWN THEIR FEARS AND GO FORWARD, SOMETIMES TO DEATH, BUT ALWAYS TO VICTORY!
ONWARD!!!!!!!!
Monday, October 12, 2009
T minus 6 days
Had a HUGE scare today when I thought that I wasn't going to be able to use a document on which I was relying to destroy these guys. Can't really get into the details, but basically, I was going to let the guy get up on the stand, perjure himself, and whip it out right there in the middle of the courtroom. The document, that is. Anywho, I found out today that the document might have been obtained confidentially and thus not something that I would be able to use in trial. Turns out it wasn't. WHEW! Crisis averted. I mean it's not like my case hinged on it, so it wouldn't have been a huge deal if I hadn't been able to use it. But let's just say I would have thrown a MAJOR hissy-fit.
I'm getting more and more documents in that show what liars these guys are. It's amazing. You know the end of those old western movies, when the good guys were backed into a corner by a canyon somewhere, and all of a sudden the back-up troops would arrive on top of the mountain? I always asked myself how those guys planned on getting down those cliffs without getting hurt. But that's neither here nor there. The point it, since my clients are the good guys, all these people are pitching in to try to help us with our case. And that's just makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside!
Oh, and the non-trial-related issue has just taken a turn for the dramatic. Great! Just what I need a week before trial!
I'm getting more and more documents in that show what liars these guys are. It's amazing. You know the end of those old western movies, when the good guys were backed into a corner by a canyon somewhere, and all of a sudden the back-up troops would arrive on top of the mountain? I always asked myself how those guys planned on getting down those cliffs without getting hurt. But that's neither here nor there. The point it, since my clients are the good guys, all these people are pitching in to try to help us with our case. And that's just makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside!
Oh, and the non-trial-related issue has just taken a turn for the dramatic. Great! Just what I need a week before trial!
Sunday, October 11, 2009
T minus 7 days
Sunday, 8:30pm.
Feeling much better today. The more I review this case, the more comfortable I get with it. Today I looked over the depositions of the other side. Lying sacks o shit! I really can't stand these guys. Usually, I don't get involved emotionally in a case, but these guys are just scum-bags, and they're trying to screw over my clients. And I'm not one to blindly defend my clients ... I've had some assholes for clients and I've never been afraid to admit it. But my clients here are really good guys, and the other guys are just trying to bully them around.
Anyway, looking over the depositions helped me pick up a bunch of areas where they were flat-out lying, and I'm just licking my chops thinking about getting these guys on the stand. Oh, this is going to be ugly! There's a strong possibility that I'm going to make these guys cry at some point during the trial. I'm not looking forward to seeing a grown man cry, but it's something that has to be done.
Oh, and there's another complicating factor that has recently come up. No, it's not related to the case, but it's very distracting in my life. As if I don't have enough trouble sleeping.
Ok, back to work now ...
Feeling much better today. The more I review this case, the more comfortable I get with it. Today I looked over the depositions of the other side. Lying sacks o shit! I really can't stand these guys. Usually, I don't get involved emotionally in a case, but these guys are just scum-bags, and they're trying to screw over my clients. And I'm not one to blindly defend my clients ... I've had some assholes for clients and I've never been afraid to admit it. But my clients here are really good guys, and the other guys are just trying to bully them around.
Anyway, looking over the depositions helped me pick up a bunch of areas where they were flat-out lying, and I'm just licking my chops thinking about getting these guys on the stand. Oh, this is going to be ugly! There's a strong possibility that I'm going to make these guys cry at some point during the trial. I'm not looking forward to seeing a grown man cry, but it's something that has to be done.
Oh, and there's another complicating factor that has recently come up. No, it's not related to the case, but it's very distracting in my life. As if I don't have enough trouble sleeping.
Ok, back to work now ...
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