Professional discourtesy results in world wide (web) embarrassment

I was sent an email at work a couple of weeks ago that I wanted to share but couldn’t because of ethical and legal obligations, since it was being sent between attorneys and I happened to be on the recipient list. However, now that it’s made its away around the Internet, I can share it here because it’s now public domain.

A Houston-area legal blogger provides a brief background…

This is the content of a real letter sent by a frustrated Ike victim and Houston lawyer. He was writing to a Dallas lawyer who didn’t get that there are some moments you cut people some slack —like when a Cat. II hurricane turns their lives upside down.

… I spoke to the lawyer who sent it, who didn’t intend to subject his client to public scrutiny. I had some damage on my house, too, so I, being from Houston, will indeed cut the guy some slack and not print his name, law firm or his client’s name. I’m even cutting the Dallas lawyer who wouldn’t readily agree to a continuance some slack and not naming him either.

Here’s the letter with the names left off (courtesy of Mary Flood):

September 26, 2008
Dear (Dallas lawyer):

I am sorry that a hurricane hit Houston.

I am sorry that I had no power or water at my house as a result of the hurricane.

I am sorry that CenterPoint Energy did not bend more quickly to your desires and restore power to my home so that I could return to it sooner.

I am sorry that upon returning to my home on Monday, September 22, 2008, I discovered a roughly 50 ft. x 6 ft. swath of human excrement, used condoms, and all other niceties that come with a raw sewage leak in one’s backyard which drains into one of the main bayous in Houston.

I am sorry that that I had to threaten City of Houston officials with lawsuits and local news exposure in order to get them to even agree to meet with me about cleaning up the problem.

I am sorry that that these city officials chose a date that interfered with our deposition and gave me no other options.

I am sorry that the Houston Public Works Department had to use a fire hose to blow human feces out of my yard on the day our deposition was scheduled.

I am sorry that the city required my presence at the debacle noted immediately above. And, I am sorry that this debacle managed to uproot some more of my trees.

I am sorry that your office communicated that you would only “agree” to my rescheduling the deposition if we agreed to pay your travel expenses. I am also sorry they did not mention anything about attorney’s fees in your voicemail. I am especially sorry that your associate, after I agreed to pay your reasonable travel expenses, decided to put in writing that while the deposition was cancelled it was “unilaterally canceled,” and that you did not “agree” to the cancellation. I am sorry that you either went back on your word or, more likely, just do not have a word.

I am sorry that you think the judge should be involved in this matter. I wonder if the judge will be sorry about that, too.

I am sorry that you are the only lawyer in this case that consistently goes out of his way to be unaccommodating and unprofessional with the other lawyers. I am sorry you are from Dallas.

Very truly yours,
(Signed by Houston lawyer)

*
If you do a search, you can find the letter in its original form.