Benchslapped: Don't F**k with Time Stamps, You WILL Get Busted
From a correspondent in the Beehive State:
Dying for just a few extra days on that brief? Ever thought about trying to game that little date stamp machine outside the court house?The attached order has been causing some buzz here in Salt Lake City. Judge Dale Kimball is not exactly a divo, but I love this order, not only for the slimy behavior of the Snell & Wilmer attorneys that got totally busted (check the docket for the exact attorney names), but also for the clever detective work by the court staff.
This is a good lesson. And a great example of an attorney getting benchslapped!
Here's the first page of the order:
And now it's time for this court to rip counsel a new one. The rest of order follows after the jump.
PAGE TWO
PAGE THREE
We're not surprised that Judge Kimball doesn't tolerate shenanigans. Here's an excerpt from an interesting profile:
Judge Dale A. Kimball grew up on a dairy farm in Draper, Utah. Those early mornings milking cows taught him the importance of responsibility. He quickly learned that if he didn’t do his job, there would be a barn full of unhappy cows and a house full of unhappy parents. In addition to his barnyard responsibilities, Judge Kimball also worked in the fields, where the family raised alfalfa, sugar beets, and grain. He faithfully worked on the family farm throughout his schooling, including law school. These experiences also taught Judge Kimball the importance of working hard, working smart, and finishing tasks on time.
Maybe "Baby Judges School" should include a stint on a farm? We'd love to see a bunch of newly confirmed circuit judges try to milk a cow -- in their robes. Think of it as "The Simple Life," but for judges.
P.S. Yes, Utah's state nickname is "the Beehive State." File that away for future reference, in case (1) you apply for a clerkship with Judge Danny J. Boggs (6th Cir.), or (2) you end up as a contestant on Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader.
P.P.S. Is it just us, or are the questions on that show harder than you'd expect them to be?
Update: Thanks to the various commenters who pointed out Snell & Wilmer's law firm motto: "Character comes through." We've added an appropriate graphic to the top of this post.
Dale Kimball bio [FJC]
Judicial Profile: Dale Kimball [Utah State Bar Association]
(60) Comments
Law school tier of the attorneys involved?
Here are the people involved:
http://www.swlaw.com/attorneys/attorney_display.asp?aid=555
http://www.swlaw.com/attorneys/attorney_display.asp?aid=286
Note Snell and Wilmer's ironic motto "Character comes through"
Can I find the docket without a PACER login? I really want to know who the attorneys are.
University of Utah, you bring shame to our tier 2 brothers.
The law firm has the slogan "Character comes through" at the top of the page! That is absolutely perfect.
Wait are they Mormons?
U of U grads . . . figures
"P.P.S. Is it just us, or are the questions on that show harder than you'd expect them to be?"
Yes, it's just you. The questions are ridiculously easy.
I used to do this ALL THE TIME with take home exams at Seton Hall Law!!! Loved it!
the judge let them off WAY too easy.... This is terrible....
Hey 2:36, have you finished shampooing the floors yet? Get back to work!
Shampooing floors is my job. No one wants a lowly Tier 2 to do anything else.
Hey, dumbass Loyola 2L: Sorry your lameass law school is a joke, but I wasn't talking to you. I was talking to ANOTHER loser (Seton Hall), so maybe I understand your confusion.
The firm is based out of Phoenix and their nickname is "Snarl & Whimper", like We'll Getcha and Mangle'ya.
What are you doing L2L? Slacking off I see.
It's so hard to find good help these days. These tier 2 "law schools" can't put out a lawyer, nor can they put out someone who can do an honest day's worth of manual labor.
From now on I'm getting my help from Latin America.
"We're not surprised that Judge Kimball doesn't tolerate shenanigans."
He IS tolerating shenanigans!!! I can't imagine a federal judge not referring these attorneys to the appropriate disciplinary authorities, at a minimum. Pathetic indeed.
If it were in NYC, I would be doing time.
I interviewed at a Salt Lake City firm a couple of years ago. In the course of the interview, Snell & Wilmer became the topic of conversation, and one attorney said that he wouldn't wish working at Snell & Wilmer on his worst enemy.
I agree with 3:03 and the others who point out that, aside from embarrassing the attorneys a little bit, the judge still lets them get away with it with no real consequences. As a law clerk, I see this far more than I'd like to-- slimy lawyers engaging in slimy behavior, getting caught, and then getting barely a slap on the wrist from the court.
As further background the "beehive" thing is one of those cute Mormon motifs that was borrowed from Freemasonry. If you go to a Mormon or Masonic temple, you'll see little beehive images all over the place, reminding the worker bees that they shouldn't stray too far and should work hard to support their institutions.
Can't comment about SLC, but a close relative of mine works at a different S&W office and says it's a great place to work
The Beehive thing has to do with Mormon beliefs about a tribe they call the Nephites who, according to them, used to travel around with bees. They think are the religious ancestors of the Nephites pretty much. That is why it's the beehive state.
I do not work at S&W but I have worked with them on numerous occasions and have dealt only with attorneys who were not only skilled, but also highly ethical. Before more comments are made tarnishing the name and reputation of an entire law firm, I think that people need to take a step back and remember that these are the actions of ONE attorney and one attorney only. Let's not forget the so-called breaking scandal involving Fulbright just a week ago and how it evolved after all the facts became known.
I do not work at S&W but I have worked with them on numerous occasions and have dealt only with attorneys who were not only skilled, but also highly ethical. Before more comments are made tarnishing the name and reputation of an entire law firm, I think that people need to take a step back and remember that these are the actions of ONE attorney and one attorney only. Let's not forget the so-called breaking scandal involving Fulbright just a week ago and how it evolved after all the facts became known.
If Judge Kimball was serious about not tolerating shenanigans, he would have show caused them the first time why they should not be sanctioned.
Dear anon at 4:25.
Don't take yourself or this board too seriously.
I agree with the post above concerning the unfairness of branding an entire firm based on the conduct of one or two lawyers working a single case. From its website, it is evident that Snell & Wilmer has 400+ attorneys with offices in five states. Such comments are simply juvenile. Grow up, people.
Two things are clear here. 4:25 DOES work at S & W, and is the same person as 4:46. Sigh.
I doubt that this is an isolated incident. For something like this to happen, the firm probably tolerates stuff that it shouldn't.
What a sad state of affairs. I don't see what this has to do with either the attorney's firm or the attorney's law school, however. Every law school in the country and every firm of any size has its "hall of shame." It's not about the institutions, it's about personal responsibility, folks!
So has anyone sent a link of this to yamaha's GC? Think they might like to know?
I sent the link to a few S&W people I know in Phoenix. Let the sh*tstorm begin.
I sent the link to a few S&W people I know in Phoenix. Let the sh*tstorm begin.
I sent the link to a few S&W people I know in Phoenix. Let the sh*tstorm begin.
Sorry about posting three times. I wanted to get one date and time-stamped at 5:33, and then actually post at 5:34. Busted!
"The Beehive thing has to do with Mormon beliefs about a tribe they call the Nephites who, according to them, used to travel around with bees. They think are the religious ancestors of the Nephites pretty much. That is why it's the beehive state."
Lies, lies and more lies. It is a traveshamockery!
Mormons also have horns. Beware.
Last comment about Mormons is incorrect. It's the behive state because the early pioneers prided themselves on being as industrious and busy as bees in the management of their new establishment at the foot of the Wasatch. I think they did a fairly decent job of making the desert "bloom like a rose" despite idots like the last poster misrepresentign their beliefs.
Look at 4:15 "InTheKnow."
6:11
InTheKnow,
You aren't really in the know. Beehive is the claimed english equivalent of the alleged reformed Egyptian word "Deseret." Deseret, of course, being found in the Book of Mormon. Also, Mormons don't believe they are the descendants of Nephites, as all the Nephites died a long time ago. Lamanites have descendants, and furthermore according to Mormonism, the American Indians are those descendants.
By the way, I find it interesting that whenever Utah is brought up, Mormon-related posts are sure to follow. I have yet to see Baptists mentioned when Rhode Island is brought up, but then again, I really have yet to see Rhode Island mentioned.
Regardless, all religions are lies based on even older legends. Your God, if real, doesn't care about any of you, especially not Loyola 2L.
If they didn't file it on Feb. 16, then presumably they didn't serve it on opposing counsel that day either. Wouldn't opposing counsel have figured out there was a problem when they weren't served on time? Did S&W lie on their proofs of service too?
Perhaps. Their rep in Phoenix (my former home) is that they sail a little close to the wind...
"You aren't really in the know. Beehive is the claimed english equivalent of the alleged reformed Egyptian word "Deseret." Deseret, of course, being found in the Book of Mormon. Also, Mormons don't believe they are the descendants of Nephites, as all the Nephites died a long time ago. Lamanites have descendants, and furthermore according to Mormonism, the American Indians are those descendants."
You're correct about the origins of the word "Deseret" but that doesn't explain why Utah is the beehive state. Intheknow had it correct. I guess he's more "in the know" than you thought.
I proudly work at Snarl and Whimper and will be happy to meet any of you anywhere and introduce you to my version of Wade Garrett.
Is this a Roadhouse or wrestling reference?
The first link showing the names didn't work, as it was deleted from their site.
I assume they fired the person.
Anyone know who it was?
Angela Stander, whose last day at Snell was Friday March 2--presumably, this fiasco is responsible for her departure.
Snell and Wilmer's nickname in Phx used to be Sniff and Whimper, hardly a name that sounds like it will mangle and "Getcha"
Anon 7:00 - "Regardless, all religions are lies based on even older legends. Your God, if real, doesn't care about any of you, especially not Loyola 2L."
This made my day. I love you.
In Kazakstan, we follow The Hawk. All your religion are belong to us.
Looks like Snell fired the associate but not the partner. This demonstrates the firm's strong commitment to "bottom up" accountability!! I would be very surprised if the partner knew nothing about this event or the other "gamesmanship" in the litigation.
Snell and Wilmer is just a sweatshop without the prestige or pay of NYC. They are basically the only "real" firm based in Arizona.
They are ultra-prestigous if you are looking to do water rights work -- water is a good source of litigation in the desert of Az -- with greedy californians hogging all the water. SW also does a suprisingly large amount of product liability defense.
Mormons are awesome -- but completely irrelevant to this post. I am not LDS but all the ones I have ever met were honest, hard working
Anyone seen that this little embarrassment made a blurb in the WSJ at B2? I'll bet the managing partner crapped his pants when he heard the words, "Mr. Sullivan, there's a reporter on the line from the Wall Street Journal who would like to talk with you."
In my district, you have to e-file. If you paper file you have to have a really good excuse for it. Why is Utah so far behind?
Former Salt Lake Snell attorney checking in here. I probably have as much reason as anyone to harbor ill feelings about Snell, but there is ABSOLUTELY no way that Tracy Fowler was aware this was going on, much less condoned it. That is one of the best and most ethical lawyers I have ever worked with. Just wanted that to be known.
Carry on.
More about the associate's resignation appears here:
http://www.abovethelaw.com/2007/03/timestampgate_an_update.php
I know this is all very funny, but . . FYI . . . Univ of Utah Law School is a top-tier law school, and has been since the ratings system began.
When did #57 become top tier?
Anon is obviously full of shit and has never worked FOR a huge firm like Snivel & Whine!
The fact that you hold such a corrupt organization in such high regard does not cease to amaze me.
I have been a Legal Secretary and am a Sr. Paralegal now at a RESPECTABLE law firm (Adorno, Yoss, Alvarado & Smith) and trained people from S&W. They are ill mannered, rude, malicious, felonious, and have a habit of using creative techniques and verbage to get the job done.
Of course not 100% of their employees follow their motto of being complete and total wastes of human life forms, however, I assure you, pay people alot of money to GET PRESS and make precedent in the legal community at whatever the cost and you will get a large group of miscreants like those at Snivel & Whine.
I could go on forever but I am not going to.
Just take not that a law firm with over 400 lawyers is not practicing law for the good of mankind. They exist as a corporation, and work as such, and therefore represent the interests of facism. Period. Can anyone say Enron?
Anon is obviously full of shit and has never worked FOR a huge firm like Snivel & Whine!
The fact that you hold such a corrupt organization in such high regard does not cease to amaze me.
I have been a Legal Secretary and am a Sr. Paralegal now at a RESPECTABLE law firm (Adorno, Yoss, Alvarado & Smith) and trained people from S&W. They are ill mannered, rude, malicious, felonious, and have a habit of using creative techniques and verbage to get the job done.
Of course not 100% of their employees follow their motto of being complete and total wastes of human life forms, however, I assure you, pay people alot of money to GET PRESS and make precedent in the legal community at whatever the cost and you will get a large group of miscreants like those at Snivel & Whine.
I could go on forever but I am not going to.
Just take not that a law firm with over 400 lawyers is not practicing law for the good of mankind. They exist as a corporation, and work as such, and therefore represent the interests of facism. Period. Can anyone say Enron?