General discussion - Mom and Dad Esq. - Page 293

Sparklehorse · 10-23-2009, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtb

I got my H1N1 shot on Monday, and I fee-el fine.

That's good news. My city's web site says that they won't have more seasonal flu vaccine for several weeks and H1N1 will not be available until December.

In the meantime, to continue on my two favorite topics in this thread, there is a new Underparenting about H1N1. My favorite quote:

Quote:

But where is the vaccine? Weren't there supposed to be jackbooted public-heath officials ordering everyone to line up for shots? I am all in favor of forcible vaccination; anti-vaccine activists are degenerate idiots who deserve to get polio and live out their days in iron lungs while Child Protective Services takes away their children to be properly raised. Or tetanus. Get lockjaw and shut up and die.

ETA: Great, now there's apparently an outbreak in Massachusetts. Link.

Greedy,Greedy,Greedy · 10-23-2009, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1436

Add to dossier on dtb: obvious shill for big pharma.

[I'm only jealous because I live in the hinterlands and can't get my shot.]

Huh. My note was "must be dating doctor on the side" but you're probably right.

Cletus Miller · 10-23-2009, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy

Huh. My note was "must be dating doctor on the side" but you're probably right.

And the correct answer is: member of highest risk cohort; a cohort that neither 1436, 3G nor Cletus could possibly be a member of.

Greedy,Greedy,Greedy · 10-23-2009, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cletus Miller

And the correct answer is: member of highest risk cohort; a cohort that neither 1436, 3G nor Cletus could possibly be a member of.

I don't like the easy answers.

1436 · 10-23-2009, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cletus Miller

And the correct answer is: member of highest risk cohort; a cohort that neither 1436, 3G nor Cletus could possibly be a member of.

I am offended that you would make assumptions about me that are neither offensive nor untrue.

Cletus Miller · 10-23-2009, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1436

I am offended that you would make assumptions about me that are neither offensive nor untrue.

I'm that way when I dare to mess with Texa(n)s.

viet_mom · 10-24-2009, 12:20 PM

Hi. Any ideas for a care package to send to a college student in San Fran? 24 year old male. He's a long time friend and camp counselor to my daughter. Just recently returned to college. Stuff in the package can be irreverent but not like porn or anything. (:

Icky Thump · 10-24-2009, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by viet_mom

Hi. Any ideas for a care package to send to a college student in San Fran? 24 year old male. He's a long time friend and camp counselor to my daughter. Just recently returned to college. Stuff in the package can be irreverent but not like porn or anything. (:

Salami from Katz's

PresentTense Pirate Penske · 10-25-2009, 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by viet_mom

Hi. Any ideas for a care package to send to a college student in San Fran? 24 year old male. He's a long time friend and camp counselor to my daughter. Just recently returned to college. Stuff in the package can be irreverent but not like porn or anything. (:

How about some tasteful lingerie polaroids of viet_mom????

sebastian_dangerfield · 10-25-2009, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icky Thump

Being that I am a semi-professional plaintiff's lawyer, that doesn't bother me none.

Your alternative, you realize is brought to you by the lovely makers of Vioxx, Celebrex and Fosamax.

Or us.

Ever have this discussion with a PI partner?

"Hey, can you research this medical issue online and write a report finding liability based on [insert theory]? Here are a few medical journals."

Then you write up the report, fax it to the "Expert PI doc" and he faxes it back to you signed about 15 minutes later? And you're sitting there thinking, "Shit, he didn't even correct the langauge... and I don't know jack about the scientific underpinnings of what I just wrote!"

That's how I see "PI Docs" or "Defense Docs." They ought to dispense with the need for an expert altogether. The lawyers write 50% of the reports.

Icky Thump · 10-25-2009, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield

Or us.

Ever have this discussion with a PI partner?

No.

sebastian_dangerfield · 10-25-2009, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icky Thump

No.

Seriously? I've had discussions with Plaintiff and Defense guys who've argued it's totally appropriate to write the report for the expert. That if the expert agrees with it by signing off on it, well, it's his opinion.

I find it appalling and was pretty fucking pissed about being told to do it, but I have to admit, having sat in meetings where lawyers have sometimes cajoled and sometimes forced* experts to modify reports to suit the lawyers' cases, there's a good argument to be made that actually writing the thing yourself is no different than pushing the expert's hand. I don't buy it, but I can understand the position.

* "Remind them who they work for," was the comment I used to hear from one partner regarding the proper way to massage an expert into saying what you wanted him to say.

Hank Chinaski · 10-25-2009, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield

Seriously? I've had discussions with Plaintiff and Defense guys who've argued it's totally appropriate to write the report for the expert. That if the expert agrees with it by signing off on it, well, it's his opinion.

I find it appalling and was pretty fucking pissed about being told to do it, but I have to admit, having sat in meetings where lawyers have sometimes cajoled and sometimes forced* experts to modify reports to suit the lawyers' cases, there's a good argument to be made that actually writing the thing yourself is no different than pushing the expert's hand. I don't buy it, but I can understand the position.

* "Remind them who they work for," was the comment I used to hear from one partner regarding the proper way to massage an expert into saying what you wanted him to say.

harder and harder to do, what with discovery of every available version of the report. "I'm sorry. You started with a draft written by Mr. Dangerfield?"

plus, most good (read experienced experts, ain't doing fuck all within 15 minutes. They bill slow until the deadline to name experts passes then they bill the shit out of the file.

(but yeah, I usually draft a good chunk of my expert's reports. we sit in a room and he types as I suggest things he might consider saying. Shhhh, don't tell atticus, he'll be disillusioned.)

sebastian_dangerfield · 10-25-2009, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski

harder and harder to do, what with discovery of every available version of the report. "I'm sorry. You started with a draft written by Mr. Dangerfield?"

plus, most good (read experienced experts, ain't doing fuck all within 15 minutes. They bill slow until the deadline to name experts passes then they bill the shit out of the file.

(but yeah, I usually draft a good chunk of my expert's reports. we sit in a room and he types as I suggest things he might consider saying. Shhhh, don't tell atticus, he'll be disillusioned.)

Not if they already have their base fee, and the PI lawyer's nervous they're going to hand in a piece of shit at the last second.

Adder · 10-25-2009, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield

They ought to dispense with the need for an expert altogether.

You could say the same thing about economic expert reports. While a good economic expert (who primarily but not exclusively tend to be the defense side, btw) will do more work than you suggest, and can add real value to the analysis, its not like the finder of fact hears anything other than "defense guy say X and plaintiff's guy says Y."