Vindictive Lawyer Text of the Year: 'Have Fun in Prison'
Some do-good lawyers write to their clients who are in prison.
It may be to cheer them up about their chances on appeal, or to give them some hope beyond the bars. One attorney, for example, gives inmates books to read.
But then there are those not-so-kind attorneys -- the ones who really don't like their clients. Like this guy...
Wrong Client
New Jersey lawyer Logan Terry had no love for his client, who was facing more than 200 years in prison for allegedly sexually assaulting four minors under age 13. Seriously, who would love that client?
Plus, the man wasn't paying his legal bills. That's an unforgivable sin to lawyers. Terry asked the court for permission to withdraw, but the judge denied the request.
So Terry sent his client a strong pre-trial message. He texted the client he would not spend the weekend preparing for trial unless the client paid first, and in all capital letters wrote:
'HAVE FUN IN PRISON."
Wrong Message
Of course, Terry got in trouble for his trouble. The client whined complained to the judge, who relieved the lawyer, who got disciplined.
Terry told the ethics panel he had twice asked to withdraw from the case because the client was uncooperative and failed to pay his fees. The panel was sympathetic, but unforgiving.
They acknowledged that Terry was "in a difficult position," but his reaction "to subvert the court's directive by 'poisoning' the representation" was wrong.
The New Jersey Supreme Court censured Terry, but he was probably right -- about the client going to prison.
Related Resources:
- Know When to Shut Up in Discipline Cases (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)
- ABA's 5 Best Tips for Baby Lawyers (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)
- Threaten the State Bar, Go to Jail (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)
