tourists talking
in several languages–
the glassblower exhales
moving day–
the coolness on my cheek
after the kiss
morning chill . . .
the bag of marbles
shifts on the shelf
credits: “tourists talking” — HPNC Contest 2003; “moving day”
Frogpond XXVII:1; “morning chill” – Presence 23
potluck
Practicing what I preach (and preaching instead of practicing), I started a
discussion with John Steele of Legal Ethics Forum today, on whether legal ethics
complaints are too often meritless or too often ignored.
“tinyredcheck” As I stated in an op/ed piece in 2003, and often since, I believe
the lawyer discipline system is woefully inadequate. In the op/ed article, and at
LEF, I give some details of my failed attempts to get Andrew Capoccia disciplined
by the NYS bar ethics committees for practices and fees related to his so-called
“debt-reduction services.” More details are here. One reason Capoccia is on my
mind again is the fact that a federal criminal trial began recently in Vermont, in which
Capoccia is charged with massive fraud — for (big surprise) alledgedly cheating his
debt-reduction clients of $23 million. If you like gory details — about sleazy lawyers —
see “Fraud case reveals ‘deal with the devil’” (Rutland Herald, Feb. 10, 2005). (for
more, see Vt. AG press release)
By the way, Capoccia and his ex-partners called their practice
“Law Centers for Consumer Protection.”
One good thing about being a legal ethics gadfly: Your
posts never become anachronistic. So, let me refer you
again to Should Lawyers Control Lawyer Discipline? and
June 2003.
Have you heard enough about Martha Stewart yet this week?
a NYT editorial today, which focuses on Africa’s woes. It aptly reminds us:
But in terms of the kind of money the West thinks nothing of spending,
on such things as sports and entertainment extravaganzas, not to speak
of defense budgets, meeting many of Africa’s most urgent needs seems
shockingly affordable. What has been missing is the political will.
Foer is author of Everything is Illuminated, and his second novel is scheduled
for release in early April. It’s called Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, and
features Oskar Schell, a nine-year-old amateur inventor and Shakespearean actor,
whose father perished in the World Trade Center on 9/11. Look for more Foer
humor, insight, fantasy, and humanity. (yes, Jonathan’s dad is Bert, president of
the American Antitrust Institute)