Its Still a Predatory World.

No. No. 1,464 One constant reminder that there are bad people out there is the continuous barrage of malware-bearing emails we receive. Over time they have become more and more sophisticated. They used to be easy to spot due to misspelling, failure to observe grammar fundamentals, lack of content and other indicators that the author […]

“It Was a Cold Bright Day in April and the Clocks Were Striking Thirteen.”

No. 1,463 The first words of Orwell’s great masterpiece, “1984”. It could have been a day like today, also cold, bright and in April. I’ve often thought that this book played a decisive role in shaping post-WWII Western society. We didn’t want to live in that World and we didn’t want to be Winston Smith. […]

Loneliness of the Long Distance Lawyer

No. 1,462 Are you surprised that, as reported in the ABA Journal, lawyers lead all categories of workers in feeling lonely? Yes, most of us experience long periods in front of computer screens, drafting pleadings, briefs and the like. But in a law firm there should be many other opportunities for collegiality. Yet the feelings […]

Briggs v Southwestern Energy Production Company; Superior Court Addresses Rule of Capture in Light of Fracking Technology

No. 1,461 BRIGGS V. SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY PRODUCTION COMPANY, 2018 PA Super. 79 (2018) Southwestern was operating two gas wells on land adjacent to the Briggs families’ 11.07 acres. The Briggs argue that the use of hydro fracking by Southwestern robs them of their gas because the fracking process propels fluid and fracking materials across property […]

Two Lawyers Walked into a Bar . . .

No. 1,460 They had just finished trying a brutal case against each other. The bartender said to the first one, “What do you do? “I’m a lawyer.” “I hate lawyers,” the bartender said. “My ex-wife’s lawyer ruined my life.” Then he turned to the other lawyer and said: “what do you do?” “I’m this guy’s […]

Statuary of a Historic Court House

No. 1,459 On this 50th Anniversary of the Assassination of Martin Luther King, we visit the Old St. Louis County Court House (no longer in use as a court house) where the Dred Scott case was tried. Both the original trial and the appeal to the Missouri Supreme Court occurred in this building. The statue […]

Getting Paid With Opportunity.

No. 1,458 The Post Gazette ran a story today about trial attorney turnover in the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office. Don’t bother reading it. I’ll give you the gist in about 30 seconds. The DA has about 27% annual turnover. Their junior trial attorneys get paid in the 40’s. They work for a few years […]

The Power of Hustle.

No.1,457 Last evening in Detroit, in the longest, highest scoring opening day game in Pirate history, Gregory Polanco hit a three run homer in the thirteenth inning to break the 10-10 tie and win the game. During Spring Training, the Pirate broadcasters observed that Polanco, who had a disappointing last season, was really hustling. Good. […]

Seattle Ordinance Requiring Acceptance of First Qualified Tenant Struck Down By Court

No. 1,456 A judge in Seattle struck down the city ordinance requiring a landlord to accept the first qualified tenant, involving a legal theory known as the “implicit bias rule.” The court recognized that dealings between a landlord and tenant involve a long-term contractual relationship. A variety of non-discriminatory factors may enter into the decision-making […]

Life and work in the iworld, its a Double-brainer.

No. 1,455 Distractions coming from many directions are keeping us from concentrating while we work. We give immediate attention to email. It takes too much will power to ignore an incoming cell phone call. After all, it might actually be more important (or interesting) than the task before you. Back in the old days, […]

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CLIFF TUTTLE has been a Pennsylvania lawyer for over 45 years and (inter alia) is a real estate litigator and legal writer. The posts in this blog are intended to provide general information about legal topics of interest to lawyers and consumers with a Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania focus. However, this information does not constitute legal advice and there is no lawyer-client relationship created when you read this blog. You are encouraged to leave comments but be aware that posted comments can be read by others. If you wish to contact me in privacy, please use the Contact Form located immediately below this message. I will reply promptly and in strict confidence.

Pittsburgh Legal Back Talk

Legal topics of interest to lawyers and consumers with a Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania focus.

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