Lawyers should think twice about adding unnecessary claims to a lawsuit

While sanctioning one of Seattle's largest law firms $400,000, King County Superior Court Judge Suzanne Barnett wrote that "lawyers sometimes need to say no to deep-pocketed clients even if it's 'bad for business.'" [Story Link via The Legal Reader]

Comments

[david giacalone]

The article quotes law professor David Boerner, who was the hired expert for the sanctioned firm, but is also a well-known ethics professor, as saying "A plaintiff's lawyer is supposed to be aggressive. What the judge seems to be saying is, 'You have to pull punches.' " I wonder if Boerner's ethics classes will help law students distinguish between pulling one's punches and punching below the belt.

[pops]

GADFREY! Small world! I was at a luncheon with Kirk Lanterman in late Sept. I made chitchat with him just prior to the seating.