Things That Make You Go "Hmmm."

Let's see....wake up South Florida!

John Pacenti is a fantastic reporter, and I've certainly had my fun with Big Lew, but I sort of agree with Joe DeMaria regarding the Lew Freeman emails that appear on the front page of today's DBR.

They're entertaining as you would expect -- and naturally involve food and bowel movements -- but where's the newsworthiness?

They seem private to me and I feel somewhat uneasy reading them.  That doesn't mean they shouldn't be published if there's some larger point to them, but I guess I'm not seeing it at the moment.

Or maybe I'm missing something -- what do you all think?

Other exciting news -- the guy in charge of handling US renditions to Egypt is now Mubarak's new VP -- that definitely makes me go "hmmm."  And even Dr. Zhivago says it is time for regime change.

Hmmm.

But this is my favorite "hmmm" moment of the morning (from today's DBR but not online):

Robert C. Josefsberg, a partner with Podhurst Orseck in Miami, has been named to the steering committee in the Chinese Drywall multidistrict litigation in New Orleans, replacing outgoing partner Victor Diaz.

Double hmmm.

Young Vic Diaz To Start Own Law Firm!

We're really happy for him:

Attorney Victor M. Diaz Jr., a partner at Podhurst Orseck, is leaving the firm for a Miami Beach startup with three other lawyers from the firm.

Diaz has spent his whole law career at the Miami-based plaintiff-and-appellate law firm since graduating from Yale Law School in 1985.

“Victor is a great friend and an exceptional attorney,” Aaron Podhurst, founding partner of Podhurst Orseck said in a joint statement issued by Diaz and the firm. “While his departure is bittersweet, I am proud to see him fulfill a dream of building a firm on his own.”

Also, I found an old high school photo of Victor which also still happens to appear on the Podhurst firm website:

I sure hope he tries out for track next year!

Judge Brown Gets Results!

Amazingly, somehow, the Podhurst and Motley Rice firms have agreed on a location for their upcoming mediation:

Pursuant to the Court’s November 24th, 2010, order, the Parties have met and conferred regarding mandatory mediation and pending discovery requests. Parties have agreed to hold mediation at the Podhurst Offices at a time convenient for the mediator, Mr. Shapiro, and counsel. Further, Podhurst has agreed to voluntarily withdraw the pending discovery requests until after mediation has taken place and if mediation is unsuccessful.

 This is a clear victory for the Judeo/Legal system.

Magistrate Judge Brown Has Another Interesting Case!

Judge Brown Has Another Case

Longtime readers know I am a great fan of Magistrate Judge Brown so I'm pleased to see he's got more on his plate than toe-tapping footsie follies.

For example, here he is presiding over one of the most painful episodes in all litigation -- a fight over where to hold a mediation.

That mind-numbing dispute is almost as idiotic as fighting over the location of a deposition, but possesses a bit more irony given that the dispute is over where to meet to try to resolve the underlying dispute.

Anyways, Judge B handles it as only he can:

Rarely, if ever, in the Court's thirty-eight plus years of experience in the Judeo/Legal system has the court seen "so much about so little". Motley Rice does not want to attend mediation at the Podhurst offices. The reasons for same are, to be kind, unclear. This is a mediation - not a trial...the Podhurst employees will not be jurors deciding this matter. Motley Rice can bring an electronics expert to check the "break-out room" Podhurst offers to be used, so as to make sure it isn't bugged.

The Podhurst firm doesn't want to go to Plantation - it is too inconvenient. The Podhurst firm litigates all over the country .. .indeed all over the world ... but Plantation is too inconvenient. Apparently there are no direct flights from Miami to Plantation. Podhurst's position is bolstered, in part, by the allegation that "other interested Parties ... have indicated an intent to attend the mediation ... " (page 3 of the response). "Edward Montoya, whose work with Motley Rice is the subject of this lien, needs to attend the mediation. Counsel for some of the Defendants involved... have also indicated that they would attend the mediation ... ". (ld.) Apparently someone needs to point out that mediation is NOT a public proceeding. See Local Rule 16(g)(2) ... and while on the subject of actually citing law, the Court notes that neither party cited any as regards the location of the mediation ... probably because it's more a matter of professionalism than adversarial legality.

Thanks to the loyal tipster who forwarded this along -- your No-Prize is in the mail!

I don't say this often, but read the whole thing.