sad first?

Firsting in a thread about some sad soul shooting themself in the face = classy.

I fear this comment thread will get ugly fast. Stay classy people.

Obviously a laid-off associate was trying to find a way out by killing himself.

"Metropolitan Police Department are currently responding to an unconscious male with a gunshot wound to the head on the 11th floor of Kilpatrick & Stockton."

Unconscious? Yeah, I'm sure he'll snap out of it any minute..

This death is obviously related to the swine flu

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Was his name Vince Foster?

-Bill C.

homicide or suicide?

enough

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enough

ELIE:

This tragedy is why comments making light of suicide should not be allowed on ATL.

Those who comment stupid things on this particular post should be ashamed of themselves.

You're not going to speculate??? Why the heck do you think we read this blog? If we want simple news reporting, we'd go to more legitimate news sources.

I love how the email starts with "Good Morning." It obviously wasnt a good morning for the dead man in your building. Dick.

I suspect that if someone suffered killed themselves too much stress at work, their estate would have some sort of tort or breach of contract claim against the firm, if the firm promised an adequate work-life balance due to promissory estoppel. I don't know for sure but I think there is guidance in Section 90 of the Restatements. Does anyone have experience in bringing lawsuits against firms who induce associates to rely on promises about work-life balance?

CAN YOU PLEASE TURN OFF THE COMMENTS ON THIS STORY. REALLY INAPPROPRIATE.

Elie -

Please remove this entire comment thread and disable it if possible - SOMEONE DIED. It is so inappropriate to make off-color jokes here.

What is wrong with people?

At least tell us if this was a KS floor of the building?

Elie, you should consider locking the comments for this post, brah...

I don't think that anyone will write anything enlightening.

Ya, turn the comments off here. Obviously people aren't grown up enough to handle the responsibility of being able to comment.

I am ashamed to call some of you people my colleagues.

perhaps the guy's name was Patrick Stockton?

#18 = 1 trick pony.

just don't look at the comments, they are hidden for your protection

Please disable the comments section on this post.

Nice 24

Hey Big Guy - it's time to shut down the comments. Thanks.

You allow comments here, but shut them off for Lateral Link or the sacred ATL cocktail hour....Elie you are a fat piece of $hit

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I second the idea to close off comments. 18=Dick, your talking about someone's life.

Man...you know...as someone who was laid-off, that initial blow certainly makes you think your life is over and you are screwed. But it gets better. It's a shame that this person (if it turns out to be a laid-off associate...and that's a big if) wasn't able to cope.

Can you imagine if you were the managing partner that had to deal the guy the bad news? Or the one who selected him? I hope all the management committees out there remember that they are dealing with people's lives...cut the f*cking salary before you take the axe to people. I don't care if it doesn't make economic sense. Feign some humanity for christ sakes.

Estate of [ ] v. Kilpatrick Stockton LLP coming soon to a courtroom near you.

Very sad news. My heart goes out to the victim's friends and family.

21: What part of "on the 11th floor of Kilpatrick & Stockton" didn't you understand?

@3, where does it say he shot himself? someone else could have shot him.

Are there ANY comments that you guys don't post? This is why ATL is worthless.

Are there ANY comments that you guys don't post? This is why ATL is worthless.

Disable

It's disgusting how some of you people (including Elie, apparently) can make fun of everything in everybody's life, day in and day out, yet, in order to convince yourself you still retain some vestiges of humanity, you choose various issues to become puritanically moral about. The "line" that you think just now gets crossed by people making fun of suicide? It got crossed a long, long time ago.

People, I agree there shouldn't be comments on this thread, but you, me, and anyone else clicked on "show them anyway." No one made you do that.

Waiting for the Cleary's new Sabbatical Policy Memo.

5 - close but not cigar. not an associate.

21 - KS has floors 9-11.

It was a suicide. Took place this am. That's all I'm going to say.

Embarrassed to admit I definitely chuckled at 24.

This publicity stunt is in really poor taste.

So which lucky Kilpatrick 3L will get to start on time now?

5 - close but not cigar. not an associate.

21 - KS has floors 9-11.

It was a suicide. Took place this am. That's all I'm going to say.

I was wondering when the law firm shootings would start, better late then never...what a loser, he couldn't do if the right way, take out a couple of greedy partners then kill yourself dumbass.

As someone who spent over a year unemployed post graduation, I can imagine a first year with $120K in loans getting screwed by greedy partners and having no hope of survival other than bankruptcy (shouldn't have bought that Lexus)...

this is what the billable hour and too many law schools has wrought.

"I don't think that anyone will write anything enlightening."

You've been here before right?

48, you are a monster

43: If commenter 5 was close, then it had to be an employee. I'm betting staff. What a shame. Thoughts and prayers to the family.

Man...you know...as someone who was laid-off, that initial blow certainly makes you think your life is over and you are screwed. But it gets better. It's a shame that this person (if it turns out to be a laid-off associate...and that's a big if) wasn't able to cope.

Can you imagine if you were the managing partner that had to deal the guy the bad news? Or the one who selected him? I hope all the management committees out there remember that they are dealing with people's lives...cut the f*cking salary before you take the axe to people. I don't care if it doesn't make economic sense. Feign some humanity for christ sakes.

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Seriously, why would anyone look at the comments on this post if they are going to get offended by insensitive remarks? Are they expecting every ATL reader to make some sort of "oh, how sad" comment; the digital equivalent of leaving a teddy bear at Princess Di's grave?

Not to say that people making cruel jokes doesn' t make them an asshole, but no one's forcing anyone to read anything. Don't bother wagging your finger in dismay at the assholes, so you can spend the rest of your day feeling morally superior.

Also, the swine flu joke was funny.

Deeply saddened by this story and most of all by some of the comments on here. How would you feel if the family of this person were to read your comments? A little sympathy would be appreciated.
My thoughts go out to all of those affected by this story.

So... did someone kill Patrick?

LOL at 18. I don't think I'll ever get tired of this shtick.

DELETE 54 now

DELETE 54 now

DELETE 54 now

DELETE 54 now

Those of you who don't care for the comments here, ATL has set up a system where you can only view the comments if you take the step of clicking on the "show comments" link. If you don't expect anything useful to come out of the comments, DON'T CLICK THE LINK.

Elie won't shut off the comments b/c he's hoping to gather info that way. 43 is the only one delivering so far.

Is there a way to ban from this site, or comments section thereof, the IP addresses connected with inappropriate and distasteful comments of the type seen here ?

The site rightfully bears and encourages an irreverent sense of humor when it comes to various issues related to BigLaw, even when it concerns something as serious as being laid off. It's one of the few ways that those of us who _were laid off have to keep our sanity intact.

But at least we still have a life to call our own, and have the time and opportunity to find another direction in our life. The individual who apparently died no longer has such options. This is extremely serious, and anyone with a shred of morality or decency would understand that there is a time for humor and a time to keep that under wraps.

Anyone who posted inappropriate comments here, you should be ashamed of yourselves and don't deserve in the least the piece of paper in your hands that qualifies you to be a lawyer. You are a disgrace to the profession and - whether you're a lawyer or not - your comments and recklessly immature attitude are a disgrace to humankind.

Everyone -whether religious or not - please try to find within yourself that capacity that would allow you to direct your thoughts and prayers to the family and loved ones of the (apparently) deceased at this time.

I find that the people bitching about the comments are FAR more annoying and immature than the comments they are bitching about.

43 - You seem to know an awful lot about this situation. You may want to stop posting comments until you've spoken to a defense attorney.

DELETE 48 now too

DELETE 48 now too
DELETE 48 now too

DELETE 48 now too

there are limits idiot. you are a bigger loser than anyone.

This is just very, very sad. Bah....

Still waiting for Cleary's memo on their revised sabbatical policy.

51, I am not a monster, just a cold blooded attorney with no time of patience for weakness...I am product of my profession, you should understand

I'm shock at the high number of fascist who visit ATL. If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen. Obviously, this guy couldn't hack it. Why should we feel sorry? It's not like he was murdered. If he is/was a laid off associate, you have to just move on. Yea it sucks. No one's saying it doesn't. But it's not the end of the world.

Very sad incident. Thoughts and prayers go out to this associate and his/her family. What a horrible situation.

The insensitive comments on this thread are disgusting. I hope if something unfortunate happens to you people, someone is there to personally laugh in your face. The lack of human compassion is beyond reprehensible.

Firing associates and forcing them out of their office by Friday bites. This is terribly sad but surprising.

Serious Question - Is today the end of BigLaw? How much more of this "no prisoners, no holds barred, work at all costs in zealous defense of your client" can people take? Can any managing partner still claim they are ignorant or unaware of the toll the business model takes on people?

Everyone who belongs to, or believes in, the ACLU (and reads ATL -- that's lots of you) needs to relax on the "disable" nonsense. Comments like 54 need to be deleted, but shutting down commenting is a bad idea. Most people are respectful about the death, and most of the people who are saying to disable commenting probably say infinitely more irreverent things regularly about disasters and wars (i.e. Iraq, War on Terror) that kill A LOT more than 1 person.

These comments prove no one is checking comments at abtl...yes we should delete some comments but they won't...nothing is worth killing yourself over

Very well said, 62. Have a heart, people. Keep this profession reputable.

Isn't this how the Runaway Jury started?

Some of these comments make me regret my decision to be a lawyer. You people are miserable disgraces to humankind. Karma is a b*tch.

73 here,
wanted to add, so please STFU about "disable commenting"

I would like to meet the idiot who posted the following blog item yesterday:

LEGAL SLAUGHTERHOUSE:
Kilpatrick Stockton latest to lay off
Posted: April 29, 2009, 9:56 AM by Julius Melnitzer
AmLaw Daily reports that Kilpatrick Stockton will lay off 24 associates in its seven U.S. offices. This despite the fact that firm revenues and partner profits were up in 2008. Kilpatrick Stockton had gross revenues of US$276 million in 2008, up 4% over 2007, and average profits of $703,000, up seven percent.

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/legalpost/archive/2009/04/29/legal-slaughterhouse-kilpatrick-stockton-latest-to-lay-off.aspx

AN HERO!

I guess the Paul Hastings partner walking around the hallways with a coat hanger does not look so bad now.

62 - You are the worst human being ever.

As 61 correctly pointed out, the comment section is here in order to gather information on the situation. That way me, you, and other people who, as you put it, exercise a "shred of morality and decency" and do care about this situation and the person's family can find out what happened.

I've never been a huge proponent of the "avert your eyes" theory, but here it is appropriate. As 55 shrewdly pointed out, you don't go to ATL for your daily affirmation. Instead, you clicked on "show them anyway" to ride your morality high horse and weep for mankind's disgraceful behavior.

You can read this story on any news feed that does not allow a comments section if you are just interested in the facts and concern for his family.

I seriously doubt that any of the deceased's family members are reading this blog in real time, or even if they did afterward, any disrespectful comments would add anything to the immense pain grief they feel right now.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family.

Elie -- edit these comments, please. There are some serious messed up individuals making glib-to-demented statements about this tragedy.

62...keep this profession reputable? LOL! How long have you been an attorney?

THANKS DAN DIPRIETO! Hope you are happy douchebag. Think: Suicide

My condolences. I truly hope something is changed for the positive as a result of this. From experience, recognizing such change is usually the only comfort in events like these.

so KS announced on Tuesday that it was laying off 24 associates and counsel, and this poor soul must have been one of them.

my sincerest condolences for his family.

Elie -- edit these comments, please. There are some serious messed up individuals making glib-to-demented statements about this tragedy.

To all the fascists on this board b*tching about "insensitive comments" and trying to censor everyone else's speech -- GET A LIFE! Worry a little less about what everyone else is saying and worry a little more about studying for finals, keeping your jobs, etc. What a bunch of holier than thou, bleeding heart, busy body, know it alls! WHY DO YOU CARE WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE SAYING?

Is there any word on whether this is related to Kilpatrick's layoffs? They laid off 24 yesterday according to AMLaw.

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Please remove this comment thread. It is insensitive and unnecessary.

Truly a sad day at KS. Perhaps out of tragedy may come a greater sensitivity to the human consequences of what's been going on, regardless of whether the deceased lawyer was a partner, associate or staff attorney.

Those who think joking about suicide is funny should seriously do some reading on the subject of suicide clusters, particularly among teens and 20 somethings. If you are half as smart as you think you are you'll realize joking about it is not such a hot idea. (not to mention marks you a soulless person)

My thoughts go out to the family on this sad day.

If ATL had any class, thay would remove this article.

yes! censorship now! protect these innocent lawyers from the ravishes of the interwebs!

PLEASE. just because someone is being an asshole doesn't mean that censorship is in order. At least the 'close this thread' people are better than the 'delete this comment' assclowns.,,

is it really surprising that eventually someone caved to the pressures of life in the shadows of a ruined career? assuming that this was triggered by a layoff, i'd like to remind everyone that ultimately he was pushed over the edge because some partners over at kilp didn't feel like taking a hit to PPP this year.

of course i wouldn't say he SHOULD have taken a few of them out with him, but had he done so i understand where that anger comes from, no matter how wrong it is.

he had the right to end his life. respect his chioce, get over the pity party.

If this was a suicide, wouldn't it have made sense to enjoy the paid time off until the severence package expired? That's what I'd do. Not a joke, just an observation...

CLEARLY this is FAKE NEWS. In D.C. you are not allowed to carry a gun.

So this is impossible. Gun laws always work.

@91
That would be valueless, unless such statistics were broken down by method.

How very sad. My thoughts are with those affected by this.

Also, does anyone else see something interesting in the comments from yesterday's Kilpatrick layoff post:

http://abovethelaw.com/2009/04/nationwide_layoff_watch_kilpat_1.php?show=comments#comments

Mark Levy per BLT.

Prior restraint is no solution. As a liberal I'm offended by the liberals feigning sympathy by promoting censorship.

Please moderate such comments from the board.

89- the hypocrisy inherent in your statement would be laughable if it wasn't so pathetic. you seem to care a great deal what people think, talk about & comment on: maybe you should get a life. Loser. You're probably hideously ugly, too. And you've never been truly, lovingly laid.

"If ATL had any class..."

Read the top of this window: "Above the Law -- A Legal TABLOID -- News, GOSSIP, and COLORFUL Commentary..."

ATL is the Perez of the legal world. It isn't the NY Times, dipshit.

The idea that, "if you weren't prepared to read awful and disgusting comments, you shouldn't have read this at all" is not really cutting it for me.

This is a matter that people would be anxious to learn about - it may affect their friends, family, colleagues, etc. They should be able to come to the comments to seek or provide further information and without being subjected to nastiness.

The comments here could even have developed into an interesting discussion of what care and mentoring options different firms offer for the mental and emotional wellbeing of attorneys, which strikes me as timely in a period of anxiety in the profession.

87--I second and join in your remarks. One of the few tasteful comments on this thread.

91--You are one sick person.

Please axe this entire comment thread

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I'm with 17. Is "Good Morning" really the right way to start that email? Christ.

80 - need moar DESU

It's threads like this, jokes about layoffs, handwringing over Vault rankings, and general stiffness of biglaw lawyers that make me want out of this profession.

Yeah, this went well. Half of the thread is "killself" variations with a few posts encouraging berserker rampages.

To all those dolts telling those of us who chastise the many revolting comments here, understand that there is a difference between wanting to censor (as some do), and aspiring to human decency. Sure, you’re entitled to say whatever the hell you want, and more power to you. You’re also obligated, as a human, to demonstrate your morality. If you’re posting crap like 48, you’ve clearly done so, and the result is disappointing, albeit not surprising. I’m not calling for individual comments to be blocked. I do think ATL could have shown the decency to keep the thread closed, knowing what was so predictable would ensue.

I’m not asking comments to be shut off. And yes, I can ignore them easily enough. Why don’t I? One, perhaps I can obtain factual info here. Two, I suppose, some part of me seeks the confirmation that many of my fellow human beings are unthinking morons who find it more important to make a glib joke than think for a second, “there but for the grace of god…” Sure…maybe you think YOU are strong enough to endure whatever this poor soul did without killing yourself. Kudos. But what if your friend or colleague wasn’t? Wouldn’t that glib comment make you chuckle then?

- Disappointed, as expected.

One month ago today my father killed himself with a single gunshot to the head. Suicide is horrible, and you never realize the pain it causes everyone until it happens to someone close to you. To have that much pain in your life to want to end it--and cause misery to your family forever--is something that I hope no one here ever experiences.

I'll never read another story about suicide again after what happened to me, and I shed a tear just reading about what happened today.

Even someone as pompous and conceited as myself cannot feel anything other than sadness over this tragedy. The rest of you trolls are out of line.

- CLS 2L Stud

One month ago today my father killed himself with a single gunshot to the head. Suicide is horrible, and you never realize the pain it causes everyone until it happens to someone close to you. To have that much pain in your life to want to end it--and cause misery to your family forever--is something that I hope no one here ever experiences.

I'll never read another story about suicide again after what happened to me, and I shed a tear just reading about what happened today.

48 and 54 really are over the line. Apparently calling Elie racial slurs is not allowed, but calling for people's murder is okay? Good god man.

Has it been confirmed that it was a self-inflicted gunshot wound?

103 - you mother is a whore. and she never loved you.

I'm just a liberal participating in my liberty.

http://legaltimes.typepad.com/blt/

why are you assuming this guy was an associate? could have been a partner or a paralegal or anybody really.

and why assume he was laid off? it's more likely that he screwed something up really really badly and was about to see his career go down the tubes.

anyway, what a way to go. who in the world wants to die in his law firm office? :(

Some of the comments on here are tasteless, agreed. I can't believe that ATL locks down comments on postings for intern applications, but leaves comments up for this.

Seriously Mystal? If you're going to lock down a thread, this one is the one to do it on.

All of you who are calling on Ellie or Above the Law to delete, hide or otherwise modify the off-color and insensitive comments made by your fellow commentators need to shut the f up and stop being so sanctimonious . If you anticipate that you will be offended by these or any other comments of a similar ilk, then do not continue to put yourself in a position to view them and click on the link that will hide the comments "for your protection". If Ellie or Above The Law see fit to allow all who wish to comment on this blog to do so - however outrageous, insensitive, or just plain juvenile and stupid the comment, then you will simply have to deal with it. I suggest that if your viewing of offensive comments damages you so, then I suggest that you stay off internet sites that allow people to comment. Yes, this is sad, but yes this is America.

This is a sad situation, but has it ever occured to any of you that perhaps this person took his or her life for reasons other than being laid off (assuming that he/she was in fact laid off). Maybe they had a crappy home life, and felt like the only place they were welcomed was at the firm. Yes, law firms can be brutal places to work, but you can still meet wonderful people there (just like any line of work).

-Happy Staff at Biglaw

is it bad to post on a thread asking for no posts?

Please leave the room if you think this will affect you.

This wasn't an associate. It was a practice group chair who graduated YLS in 1975.

http://legaltimes.typepad.com/

Here is the hard news:

April 30, 2009
Kilpatrick Stockton's Mark Levy Dead
Mark Levy, Washington-based counsel and chair of Kilpatrick Stockton's Supreme Court and Appellate Advocacy practice, died in the firm's D.C. office this morning, the BLT has confirmed with lawyers both inside and outside the firm.
"We in the legal community are losing someone who is hard to replace,” says Kilpatrick Stockton partner Dennis Gingold, who has worked with Levy and calls him one of the District’s finest appellate lawyers. “This is a tough time.”
According to Metropolitan Police Department officers near the firm's offices at 607 14th Street N.W., a male individual committed suicide this morning at the 600 block of 14th Street N.W.

A man who works in the building, but not at the firm, tells the BLT that by 7:45 this morning, two ambulances and a fire truck were on the scene.

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Please leave the room if you think this will affect you.

118, yes because liberal doctrine says that violent wealth redistribution from white people (see Che, Castro) is a good thing, while hurting the feelings of minorities is obviously a bad thing.

Censorship? Hacking it? Sensitivity?

It amazes me that many of you took a horribly tragedy and made it their own by railing on sensorship or that the person couldn't hack it.

The bottom line is that a great tragedy has taken place. The person was someone's son or daughter, father or mother, husband or wife, and friend. Think about how you would feel if you lost someone like this through any cause?

Now doesn't your comment about hacking it or censorship seem a bit ridiculous?

I'm with 126 - why have the comments section open at all about this? Post the story and let it develop - without the infantile commenting.

Elie, turn off the fucking comments. c'mon!

SEE, there are some nice comments on this board. Why do the little fascists want to prevent the nice commentary as well?

Oh, my God. That is absolutely horrible. RIP.

Censorship? Hacking it? Sensitivity?

It amazes me that many of you took a horribly tragedy and made it their own by railing on sensorship or that the person couldn't hack it.

The bottom line is that a great tragedy has taken place. The person was someone's son or daughter, father or mother, husband or wife, and friend. Think about how you would feel if you lost someone like this through any cause?

Now doesn't your comment about hacking it or censorship seem a bit ridiculous?

Mark Levy - head of their DC appellate practice. This is beyond tragic

http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202430327215

122 - I can confirm that.

- 43.

If anyone is coming to ATL for an "interesting discussion of what care and mentoring options different firms offer for the mental and emotional wellbeing of attorneys"...well, you've come to the wrong place.

Perhaps ATL can develop a procedure that restrains individuals from forcing themselves to press the "read comments" button.

120 - You nailed it. How did you know?

103.

People--Please--Remember your hearts--Please.

God Bless Us Everyone-With No Exceptions.

101--stop being cryptic and tell us what the "something interesting" is.

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This is unbelievably horrible - clearly it had something to do with his life at the firm and he wanted to send a message to them, by doing it there. Looks like a very accomplished (and near retirement age) lawyer, also.

Now that we know who it is, does anyone have any info on whether or not he was laid off?

If Elie's going to delete comments that are mildly insulting to himself, Lat, and Kashmir (which doesn't bother me) I think he sets a standard of tolerance well below that of calling for murder. A consistent standard would be a good policy. That is all.

An article on Law.com states that the attorney was Mark Levy, counsel in the DC office.

http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202430327215

122 - I can confirm that.

- 43.

Very sad.

wow. this is really horrible.

PLEASE TURN OFF COMMENTS.

I love it. All you east coast holier than thou BIGLAW liberal elites with your hightened sense of superiority and zeal to fight for basic rights and freedom of speech are the first to run crying to big brother to shut down commenting because you don't "like" what's being posted.

You are right, this IS "serious stuff." As some of these comments demonstrate, how many overworked, stressed out associates have thought about pulling a Columbine during an executive partner meeting.

With the number of associates who are full blown alcoholics and/or cocaine users, I too am surprised we don't see more of this. The "disrespectful" comments on here are people's (misguided) attempts at venting their frustration at the very same conditions that led this pour soul to take his life.

Seriously, would you rather have a colleague blow off steam in a distateful, irreverant internet post or actually shoot someone?

PLEASE TURN OFF COMMENTS.

122 - I can confirm that.

- 43.

I love it. All you east coast holier than thou BIGLAW liberal elites with your hightened sense of superiority and zeal to fight for basic rights and freedom of speech are the first to run crying to big brother to shut down commenting because you don't "like" what's being posted.

You are right, this IS "serious stuff." As some of these comments demonstrate, how many overworked, stressed out associates have thought about pulling a Columbine during an executive partner meeting.

With the number of associates who are full blown alcoholics and/or cocaine users, I too am surprised we don't see more of this. The "disrespectful" comments on here are people's (misguided) attempts at venting their frustration at the very same conditions that led this pour soul to take his life.

Seriously, would you rather have a colleague blow off steam in a distateful, irreverant internet post or actually shoot someone?

People--Please--Remember your hearts--Please.

God Bless Us Everyone-With No Exceptions.

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Hero?

130: Levy was clearly 100 times the lawyer you'll ever be, asshole.

If Elie's going to delete comments that are mildly insulting to the ATL staff (which doesn't bother me) then I think he set a standard of tolerance well below that of calling for murder. A consistent policy is expected. That is all.

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Jeez people, have some compassion. Something terrible might happen to you someday.

And to the censorship crowd, shut the fuck up.

143, you can throw that point out now that it's been revealed who it was.

You come here trying to find out more, which was not too much to expect. You find out it's a legendary lawyer. And in so doing you read dozens of ignorant comments about how surely it must have been a spoiled young associate who couldn't hack it.

Sincere condolences to everyone affected
106

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Hero?

If Elie's going to delete comments that are mildly insulting to the ATL staff (which doesn't bother me) then I think he set a standard of tolerance well below that of calling for murder. A consistent policy is expected. That is all.

My condolences to the individual's friends, family, and coworkers.

***

TURN OFF THE COMMENTS!

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I read this blog sometimes, but have never before commented. Mark Levy was my co-counsel. He was a wonderful, kind man and a fabulous lawyer. He always took care to inquire about my family and encourage me in my career, and I will miss him.

I suspect that if someone's comments were deleted by a rabid mob of hypocrital ATL readers, that person would have some sort of tort or breach of contract claim against the 1st Amendment, because it promises free speech. I don't know for sure, but I think there is guidance in Section 90 of the Restatement.

Suicide is for cowards, as is censorship.

Thank you for listening to the Voice of Reason.

This is unbelievably horrible - clearly it had something to do with his life at the firm and he wanted to send a message to them, by doing it there. Looks like a very accomplished (and near retirement age) lawyer, also

wow. this is really horrible.

This is unbelievably horrible - clearly it had something to do with his life at the firm and he wanted to send a message to them, by doing it there. Looks like a very accomplished (and near retirement age) lawyer, also

There's also a FIRE on K street downtown D.C. right now. All streets within 3 blocks north of the White House are closed down. True story.

People--Please--Remember your hearts--Please.

God Bless Us Everyone-With No Exceptions.

Second 170.

This is a terrible tragedy. The comments on this thread are far worse than those deleted on other threads.

http://www.kilpatrickstockton.com/attorneys/detail.aspx?ID=12961&pglist=&stlist=

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Sad news, bringing a sense of levity to the usual immature layoff banter. That guy's resume is impeccable, why would they ever lay him off? Is appellate lit that unprofitable?

166 - you are a person of limited life experience. Get some. Then think about it for 5-10 years. Then come back and tell us what, if anything, you have learned.

Cue the Mark Levy "limerick" posters in 3, 2 ...

"Sanctimonious"? Yeah, real sanctimonious to have some common human decency about a death in our professional community. WTF is wrong with you people? Doesn't anyone have manners or any sense of propriety anymore? If these are supposed to be comments from one of the more educated and supposedly reasonable eschelons of our society, I seriously fear for our future.

Disable comments. 1st Amendment crowd, please read some caselaw on the subject.

There's also a FIRE on K street downtown D.C. right now. All streets within 3 blocks north of the White House are closed down. True story.

Sad news, bringing a sense of levity to the usual immature layoff banter. That guy's resume is impeccable, why would they ever lay him off? Is appellate lit that unprofitable?

Jesus, this guy's cv seems to indicate that he was a titan. Thoughts/prayers...

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agreed 186 - most of the acting out crowd at this site are passive aggressive wimps in person - this is a place where than live out their Walter Middy dreams and pretend to be the masters of the universe that they are only in their rather vivid imagination.

Levy's death is a tragey - for him and for his family. And, yes, suicides are more common in our profession than in many others (although I believe oddly enough that suicides of dentists are more common than lawyers).

We may never know why he did what he did. But please people, have a little sensitivity and compassion.

182 - get some life experience. You are a simple minded, and horribly insenstive bastard.

Mark Levy was an incredible and brilliant attorney, who just weeks earlier has argued and won a case before the Supreme Court. KS apparently had just laid him off. My thoughts and condolences go out to his family. I am truly in shock at how this could happen, both on KS's and his part.

ELIE - I'M GONNA TELL LAT ON YOU...WHEN HE GETS BACK YOU'RE GONNA BE IN TROOOOUUUBLE!

Please for the love of god disable these comments. I can only imagine how his family is feeling, and respect and discretion here would certainly be for the better. Come on Ellie . . . please.

#186 THIS makes you fear for our future? You seem to be laboring under the misapprehension that lawyers are good people. "More educated"? "Suppossedly reasonable"??? HAH--I scoff at misplaced idealism. What you are dealing with is one of the most cold-hearted uncaring stressed out substance abusing, spouse cheating segment of society and you expect some "better" behavior?

Lets not forget, every a-hole partner was an associate some day past.

Obviously this death has more to so with something in his home-life than legal world. My assumption would be that he has been working tirelessly and long long hours on a very important issue. These long hours were not to his wife's liking and she gave him and ultimatum (either work less, or I'm leaving and taking the kids.) Likely he had a nervouse breakdown and this is the result.

Be a lesson to all women--The world does not revolve around you, look what your selfish, childish actions have caused now!

I'd like to point out that I twice posted a comment saying that the woman pictured in a story looked like a lesbian. Both times my comment was deleted. Yet all these comments stand? WTF.

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Comment removed by moderator.

It might have been swine flu.

What did he know about Obama and when did he know it?

Best wishes and prayers go out to the family. A terrible tragedy. All the best.

Elie,
what the fuck man? Be sensible here and disable the comments. You know these aren't actual lawyers making these horrific comments - don't allow them this outlet.

Why just "Counsel" and not a partner?

from 182,

193, I don't ride know man jock. A real man would have stood up and took being laid off. He's a coward who probably left a wife and kid behind. No sympathy.

Had a couple of new names for the firm:

1) The Suicide chamber
2) Killpatrick and stock 'im
3) Gunner and Mortem
4) Deathtrap and Coffin
5) Stressem and Dethem

Above the law should take a vote on this.

from 182,

193, I don't ride no man jock. A real man would have stood up and took being laid off. He's a coward who probably left a wife and kid behind. No sympathy.

Why did he kill himself at work, with a gun? This sounds impulsive. If he wasn't mentally ill or running a ponzi scheme then I smell foul play.

from 182,

193, I don't ride no man jock. A real man would have stood up and took being laid off. He's a coward who probably left a wife and kid behind. No sympathy.

Comment removed by moderator.

Learn to spell, 197. You are a fucking idiot and do not deserve to be in this profession (if you even are).

What exactly is the point of having comments? They should be disabled. Someone died, its tragic, I don't care who responds first. Elie, once again you've led ATL down the path of irresponsibility and low-class. I know you just like to brush off these comments, but please, please please resign because you are doing so much damage to the legal community.

Please shut off the comments. I know what's best for everybody. And I have a monopoly on what it means to be "human" and 'moral" and "decent." My heart bleeds for everyone. I am all-knowing, all-caring, all-loving, all-decent, and I know what should and should not be said on public message boards.

I wish you would just let me and Obama run the world. We know what's best for message boards and for GM and the banks.

Can someone confirm if K & S laid him off?

I always come here under the assumption that internet-asshole behavior is a sort of self-aware schtick for most people - nothing more than venting.

Now I actually think that many of you are indeed scumbags.

214 - how is this damaging the legal community instead of just exposing it for what it truly is?

217=jealous cooley grad working as a caddy at the local golf club

-198

Lawyers are scumbags???? Say it ain't so Jo, Say it ain't so!!!!!!!

+1 215

173 & 194: Our sincere condolences on your loss.

Do not pay attention to the rabid musings of the law students who troll this blog. It's the middle of finals; and they're hopped up on red bull and insecurity.

Horrible news.

And yeah, K street was literally on fire this morning.

This is extremely sad.

217,

Scum because we don't share your same moral view about suicide? You can sit around and feel sorry for every douche who takes his own life. But, I don't subscribe to your overly sympathetic view. If he killed himself for being laid off, I have no sympathy. Call me an asshole if you want.

217,

Scum because we don't share your same moral view about suicide? You can sit around and feel sorry for every douche who takes his own life. But, I don't subscribe to your overly sympathetic view. If he killed himself for being laid off, I have no sympathy. Call me an asshole if you want.

If he was laid off, there is blood on the hands of the partners that made the decision to let him go.

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ELIE DISABLE THE FUCKING COMMENTS. I LOVE IT HOW YOU DELETE COMMENTS WHEN THEY CALL YOU THE N-WORD BUT YOU LET SNARKY ASSHOLES DEMEAN SUICIDE AND MAKE FUN OF SOMEONE WHOSE DEAD. DISABLE THE COMMENTS NOW!!!!

ALSO, PLEASE QUIT ATL, YOU'RE AN EMBARRASSMENT

ELIE DISABLE THE FUCKING COMMENTS. I LOVE IT HOW YOU DELETE COMMENTS WHEN THEY CALL YOU THE N-WORD BUT YOU LET SNARKY ASSHOLES DEMEAN SUICIDE AND MAKE FUN OF SOMEONE WHOSE DEAD. DISABLE THE COMMENTS NOW!!!!

ALSO, PLEASE QUIT ATL, YOU'RE AN EMBARRASSMENT

ELIE DISABLE THE FUCKING COMMENTS. I LOVE IT HOW YOU DELETE COMMENTS WHEN THEY CALL YOU THE N-WORD BUT YOU LET SNARKY ASSHOLES DEMEAN SUICIDE AND MAKE FUN OF SOMEONE WHOSE DEAD. DISABLE THE COMMENTS NOW!!!!

ALSO, PLEASE QUIT ATL, YOU'RE AN EMBARRASSMENT

ELIE DISABLE THE FUCKING COMMENTS. I LOVE IT HOW YOU DELETE COMMENTS WHEN THEY CALL YOU THE N-WORD BUT YOU LET SNARKY ASSHOLES DEMEAN SUICIDE AND MAKE FUN OF SOMEONE WHOSE DEAD. DISABLE THE COMMENTS NOW!!!!

ALSO, PLEASE QUIT ATL, YOU'RE AN EMBARRASSMENT

ELIE DISABLE THE FUCKING COMMENTS. I LOVE IT HOW YOU DELETE COMMENTS WHEN THEY CALL YOU THE N-WORD BUT YOU LET SNARKY ASSHOLES DEMEAN SUICIDE AND MAKE FUN OF SOMEONE WHOSE DEAD. DISABLE THE COMMENTS NOW!!!!

ALSO, PLEASE QUIT ATL, YOU'RE AN EMBARRASSMENT

ELIE DISABLE THE FUCKING COMMENTS. I LOVE IT HOW YOU DELETE COMMENTS WHEN THEY CALL YOU THE N-WORD BUT YOU LET SNARKY ASSHOLES DEMEAN SUICIDE AND MAKE FUN OF SOMEONE WHOSE DEAD. DISABLE THE COMMENTS NOW!!!!

ALSO, PLEASE QUIT ATL, YOU'RE AN EMBARRASSMENT

I don't know why anyone cares about what anyone says on this site. Don't you know that it's mostly law students with delusions of grandeur -- anything to keep them from the cold reality of the real world. Let's see: will any of you schmucks actually work in BigLaw? Hmmm... I predict you'll have to chase lots of ambulances to pay off your overpriced education, if you're lucky.

Folks, have some sympathy.

He probably had either chronic health problems, or a mental breakdown, or lost all his money to a ponzi scheme, etc. Or lost a family member, or a family member was sick, etc.

He would not kill himself over losing his job, or a case. And they would not fire him anyway, obviously.

How do we know it was a suicide anyways? In DC a lot of "suicides" mysteriously happen to people you never thought would do that...

-Freddie

Really getting sick of this masturbatory "I'm going to write some sweeping generalizations about lawyers being horrible human beings, so it's okay I act like a little douchebag on an internet message board!" STFU. Regardless of the jokes, this professional community is still highly respected. It's worthless little tools like you all that ruin it more and more every day. I rue the day ABA decided any dog and pony show could get accreditation, because all they're doing is pumping out little shits like you.

Elie couldn't cut it as a lawyer, either. He's allowing this thread to run to get a sense of what people will be saying when he throws his lame ass off a bridge.

How interesting...
http://www.lectlaw.com/files/gun02.htm
He argues in favor of the Brady gun grabbers and then offs himself with a handgun, in a city that has effectively banned private ownership of handguns (notwithstanding Heller). Obviously, he wasn't very successful in convincing himself that ordinary citizens shouldn't own handguns.

To all those calling for shutting down the comments, GROW UP. Really.

Ellie be decent- PLEASE. Show some respect to this guy's family (particularly his kids, if he has any) and remove these comments before they become a permanent internet memorial/burden to this guy's impressive life and career. Discretion here would be admirable.

holy shit, the out-of-office reply... just horrible.

That out of office reply is creepy.

The game is the game. It has always been this way and I doubt it's going to change. Unless you're a fucking partner, you're not safe. It's just the way it is. They're the shareholders, they make the decisions. We're workers. We accept that when we play. You can't start a game of monopoly and then get mad when you only end up with the shitty property. It's the game. If you can't take it, get another job. No one is forcing anyone to be a lawyer. It's our decision. Stop crying and do something about it. If you think the game's unfair, try to change it.

Killing yourself is like quitting when you're about to lose. It's cowardice.

235,

Umm, he is "counsel," not a "partner," so it is not obvious that the firm wouldn't fire him.

Please, cut off this thread. Its a tragic and unfortunate event that should be treated more seriously than fodder for rude, immature and cruel comments by many on this board.

But since everyone is heting their two cents worth - there is more than a touch of irony in what apears to be a self-inflcited gunshot by a YLS graduate who is a Clinton admin alum, presumably a Democract, in Washington DC, which has just about the strictest gun control regulatins in the country. So much for being a DC Superlawyer - see http://potomac.dbusinessnews.com/shownews.php?newsid=180359&type_news=past

I'd like to THANK Elie for keeping comments open. If you self-righteous bastards don't want to read the comments, don't read them.

The game is the game. It has always been this way and I doubt it's going to change. Unless you're a fucking partner, you're not safe. It's just the way it is. They're the shareholders, they make the decisions. We're workers. We accept that when we play. You can't start a game of monopoly and then get mad when you only end up with the shitty property. It's the game. If you can't take it, get another job. No one is forcing anyone to be a lawyer. It's our decision. Stop crying and do something about it. If you think the game's unfair, try to change it.

Killing yourself is like quitting when you're about to lose. It's cowardice.

Between 24 and 57, 24 was earlier, more clever, and slightly less distasteful.

Congratulations, 24, on your dubious achievement of toeing that fine line.

The auto-reply email message makes it pretty clear that the deceased was not well. Very strange.

I actually got a good chuckle out of the Promissory Estoppel joke. I've always been curious about what makes people want to senor and what doesn't. For instance, we laugh out loud when Sasha Barron Cohen makes jokes about killing Jews or when Seth McFarland makes a 9/11 joke in Family Guy. Why does this set off so many alarms all of a sudden? If I died (whether by suicide or not), I wouldn't mind some jokes at my expense if it makes people feel better.

247,

Stop watching the Wire.

Folks, have some sympathy.

He probably had either chronic health problems, or a mental breakdown, or lost all his money to a ponzi scheme, etc. Or lost a family member, or a family member was sick, etc.

He would not kill himself over losing his job, or a case. And they would not fire him anyway, obviously.

How do we know it was a suicide anyways? In DC a lot of "suicides" mysteriously happen to people you never thought would do that...

-Freddie

From 247,

Thanks for keeping the comments open. We got a bunch of reds telling us how we should feel about a coward. These ppl probably voted for obama, drink green tea and frowns when they see someone driving a hummer. Fuck you guys. The game is the game. If you can't take it, play another one. Play a game where everybody wins.

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what does the out of office say?

236:

Your comment is as entertaining as it is hypocritical and self-contradictory.

"I don't like people making generalizations about lawyers, so now I will make some generalizations about lawyers that didn't have mommy and daddy's trust fund and connections to pay for a WASPy law school"

Love it!

251,

only when you stop being a fag.

With the high number of commenters requesting the moderation of comments on this post, you'd think the ATL editors would at least take a minute to try and defend their decision to allow them.

Cowards.

257,

Shut up Omar.

Amazing. Elie is willing to lock comments on a thread where a UMich Law student lies about being raped ( http://abovethelaw.com/2008/12/michigan_2l_responds.php?show=comments#comments ), but here, where a genuine tragedy has occurred, he is unwilling to do so.

Elie, you are a hypocrite.

With the high number of commenters requesting the moderation of comments on this post, you'd think the ATL editors would at least take a minute to try and defend their decision to allow them.

Cowards.

What is his auto reply message?

The ABA Journal has obtained this out-of-office reply from Mr. Levy's email account:

An e-mail sent to Levy this morning produced this auto-reply message: "As of April 30, 2009, I can no longer be reached. If your message relates to a firm matter, please contact my secretary . . . If it concerns a personal matter, please contact my wife . . . Thanks."

258 - or maybe they're too busy preparing for their next story and they don't have time to constantly monitor the boards.

259,

That's your comeback? I was expecting a joke about my mother. Disappointed. But I appreciate the Wire reference. There is no need to continue this seeing as your 2nd comeback is worst than Michael Jordan's.

259,

That's your comeback? I was expecting a joke about my mother. Disappointed. But I appreciate the Wire reference. There is no need to continue this seeing as your 2nd comeback is worst than Michael Jordan's.

Don't turn off comments. I hate mock indignation. Everyone knows the sophomoric nature of comments here, in good times and bad. Rest in Peace to the deceased, but to those holier than now still living on this earth and reading the comments, btw labeled "comments hidden for your protection", get a grip.

This guy was a stud. The firm - needlessly- fu#$#$ed him (just like a lot of other people). I feel for his family.

224 - You don't need to have sympathy for the man who decided to kill himself, I don't think he would notice either way. But you must realize that his friends and family DID NOT CHOOSE to loose a loved one. See 173. Asshole.

What did he know about Obama and when did he know it?

259,

That's your comeback? I was expecting a joke about my mother. Disappointed. But I appreciate the Wire reference. There is no need to continue this seeing as your 2nd comeback is worst than Michael Jordan's.

This guy was a stud. The firm - needlessly- fucked him (just like a lot of other people). I feel for his family.

If you don't like the comments, don't read them. Even a preschooler could figure that out. I, for one, am happy violence is erupting in law firms. Better late than never... God give him peace.

Hearbreaking. If the person was laid off and had a family to support, I am sure that the stresses were enormous. Time for us all to reflect on what is important in life. To all the managing partner types, think long and hard before deciding to lay off lawyers with families to support.

269,

If you'd take a moment and read everything before you pass judgment, you'd notice I've sent my condolences to family and friends. No need to comment on that. Go read slate, drink green tea and watch indy movies.

Morbid curiosity here as well.... what does the Out of Office autoreply say?

I agree with the last few posts -- that out-of-office reply is just awful. I can't even imagine this guy's last few thoughts.

269,

If you'd take a moment and read everything before you pass judgment, you'd notice I've sent my condolences to family and friends. No need to comment on that. Go read slate, drink green tea and watch indy movies.

This guy was a stud, who got jerked like so many other people by their firm.

I had the opportunity to meet him a time or two, and I must say he was a really nice guy. Very thoughtful. It is a shame that we lost him. My thoughts are with his family.

There is a story here. Maybe when it comes to light, some people can learn from it. Avoid whatever pushed him over the edge.

264--If recent posts are any indication I'm sure that "next story" will either be (i) a belated account of something already reported elsewhere; (ii) XYZ law school's IT dept. is experiencing technical difficulties; or (iii) some TTT firm is ... who cares?!

And while rushing to do all the above, they will still likely fail to even proofread the post.

And that's not even getting into the fact that this is (or was an hour ago) a "breaking" news story and of a sensitive nature at that. That fact alone would warrant the monitoring of the message board of this post.

My heart goes out to Mr. Levy's family.

Please, Elie, you stupid fuck, turn off the comments.

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In other news, A-Rod might have used roids in high school. go figure.

258

Why the hell should ATL defend their decision not to censor/moderate/block comments? If you can't think of a few decent constitutional rationales off the top of your head then seriously, stfu. ATL isn't mommy or daddy or big brother. It's a gossip blog and closing/censoring comments doesn't make a bit of sense unless some sort of direct personal harm can be foreseen.

This comment thread represents everything great and everything terrible about this country.

We don't have all the facts, but presumably someone killed themselves over a hurdle in their career. Most of the people on this thread are clamoring for purely sympathetic comments and more information. This element represents everything wrong with America.

If this person committed suicide, they committed an intentional act. Presumably over a job. And that warrants sympathy and a reverence for the dead? Do any of you weak-minded drones understand that you are the reason the rest of the world hates the United States. Rich, white, western, sanctimonious liberal idiots that find it sad that someone killed themselves over...again presumably...a job. People on this planet have real problems, and they don't center around LSAT scores, law school rankings, biglaw jobs and partnership opportunities.

The comments questioning your sanctimonious asses are a testimony to the greatness of this country and our right to free and unabridged speech.

Oh, and the ship be sinking...

Elie,

Don't turn off the comments. Don't let the fascists win this one, they already won the election.

Elie,

Don't turn off the comments. Don't let the fascists win this one, they already won the election.

275/278 - You offer condolences to his family then call him a douche? That's what I'm talking about. If you'd take a moment to think before passing judgment. Asshole.
-269

Michael Ray- What have you done with Michael Ray?

He killed himself over a job. come on, man. come on.

Hey attorneys...the world is watching. If you all want to try and hang on to your high hourly rates and expect your clients and the general public to respect the profession, stop acting like a bunch of ignorant frat boys in the comments. Today, it would have been appropriate to express condolences to the family of this person.

Many of you chose to be classless. I hope it leads to joblessness soon.

Signed,

J.Q. Public

Today is a sad day. It is unfortunate to see a member of the bar take his own life. My thoughts and prayers are with Mark Levy's family and the folks at KS. Back in 1981, an associate took his own life at the firm. We observed a minute of silence (which was billed to a client). Some people believe this business is easy. Rest assured this business requires mental acumen and tremendous hustling capability. Unfortunately, graduating from a top law school does not guarantee that you will possess the skills to be a successful attorney. Many talented folks, who were stars in law school, have a difficult time adjusting to becoming a lawyer. Most of the time, they cannot explain or reconcile their inability to transplant their law school success in the real world of practicing law. Sometimes, suicide is the result. It is lamentable that law schools cannot teach courage or eliminate cowardice from a person's core. RIP Mark Levy.

In this dour time, I would like for all of you to observe a minute of silence for Mr. Levy. Please honor him by not billing that minute.

This guy was a stud and got jerked - like so many others - by his firm.

http://abajournal.com/news/kilpatrick_stockton_lawyer_reported_dead_from_a_gunshot_wound

287 -

Stick to "The Ship be sinking ..." From you, less is definitely more.

290,

I feel sorry for the fam and friends. I don't feel sorry for him. It's simple. Clearly it's too complex for you to wrap your mind around. So I'll state it in elementary form: I don't sympathize with A (dude who killed himself presumably for a job) but I do sympathize with B (friends) and C (family) because I presume they didn't make him kill himself and they were emotionally connected to the guy. This obviously didn't factor into his decision making process b/c ultimately he's selfish.

Three Hundredth

291 -

This has been pointed out many times. Prudence would dictate that I create another profile, as I cannot simply 'change' the 'misspelling'...

But its Micheal Ray, I mean, prudence be damned!

290,

I feel sorry for the fam and friends. I don't feel sorry for him. It's simple. Clearly it's too complex for you to wrap your mind around. So I'll state it in elementary form: I don't sympathize with A (dude who killed himself presumably for a job) but I do sympathize with B (friends) and C (family) because I presume they didn't make him kill himself and they were emotionally connected to the guy. This obviously didn't factor into his decision making process b/c ultimately he's selfish.

What is wrong w/ lawyers??!!!!!

What is wrong w/ lawyers??!!!!!

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This is so so sad. Anyone know if there is a high rate of suicide in the legal profession?

283:

You're pathetic. The hypocrisy of your post is about 6 levels deep. Using the same comment to offer (fake I'm sure) condolences to Mr. Levy's family, make an ad hominem attack against Elie, then demand the closing of all comments.

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Sad, sad day.

Condolences to his family and friends.

Elie: Leaving the comments on was not a good idea. C'mon. You're doing this for the traffic, but have some respect. Or at least justify why you're leaving the comments on for this story, when, nearly 300 comments later, you can see that most of the adolescent pricks posting on this site deserve to be punched in the face.

Kilpatrick Stockton just sent out the following press release:

"In light of recent events, we now only have to layoff 23 associates, instead of the 24 previously announced."

297 -

Is this better?

Bitch, please...I speak my mind when I play, when I coach, or when I see some mo'fucka blow his head off. He ain't the first guy to get down after some shit happens.

The ship be sinking...

299... fail.

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Maury Levy did not kill himself. I suspect that Marlo finally got wise to the manner in which Lester and Kima got hold of his cell number.

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Mark Levy has children old enough to use the internet. News coverage of his death from other outets links to Above the Law, because it broke the story. Comment as you wish, but you should do so knowing these facts.

CAN SOMEONE AT KS CONFIRM THIS GUY WAS LAID OFF / PUSHED OUT?

310 -

Thirty-five words too long. For you, less is more.

This is sad. Everyone saying that he deserves no sympathy because he killed himself over a job and that some people have REAL problems, blah blah blah...jesus, have any of you heard of depression? Normal people with normal mental states don't kill themselves over their jobs, but depressed people might. So, in essence, you're saying that chemically imbalanced people need to man up. Shameful.

Regardless of the circumstances, a man died, and a lot of people are going to be hurting, can't we all have a little respect for that?

31 - I just want to make sure you aren't serious?

This is sad. Everyone saying that he deserves no sympathy because he killed himself over a job and that some people have REAL problems, blah blah blah...jesus, have any of you heard of depression? Normal people with normal mental states don't kill themselves over their jobs, but depressed people might. So, in essence, you're saying that chemically imbalanced people need to man up. Shameful.

Regardless of the circumstances, a man died, and a lot of people are going to be hurting, can't we all have a little respect for that?

315 - the comments are hidden for their protection.

duh.

Based on reading the comments on this sad story, I can only conclude that lot's of low life, scum comment on this site. A man took his life for god's sake! How about some pity!

Based on reading the comments on this sad story, I can only conclude that lot's of low life, scum comment on this site. A man took his life for god's sake! How about some pity!

Suicide is the most selfish of a narcissist's long list of selfish acts.

It's not all about you. Remember that.

When Mark Levy was at Mayer Brown, and I was at another biglaw firm, and along with a host of others we were writing briefs in a case that would eventually make precedent at the Supreme Court on issues of insurance law and international relations, I worked with him on the briefing process. I cannot say he was a close friend, and it was many years ago now, but he was a gentleman and a brilliant brief writer and a gifted and skillful colleague, in a case where the briefing process required seeking consensus from many parties and their counsel, some of the leading legal minds in the country with egos to match. I have no clue about the reasons for his apparent suicide, although the timing and location are suggestive, but that's just speculation. A moment of reflection please.

322-323: I pity you. Truly.

Uhh...

Are you people nuts?

Not everyone with depression kills themselves over a job. They get meds. They talk to people. And yes, some of them "man up" and just realize the problem they have and try to deal with it...after carefully weighing their options.

Go to a counselor, quit your damn job, and take some f-ing meds. Don't blow your brains out all over your office and leave your wife and kids horrified and scarred for life. Only the truly irresponsible and cowardly can do that and then say that it was a result of a chemical imbalance.

Sheesh.

320 = bleeding heart...Liberals always have an explanation. He committed suicide. He didn't die on a battlefield protecting people from foreign invasion. He didn't die protecting his family from an aggressor. Fuck him.

This is incredibly sad. My thoughts go out to his family, friends and colleagues.

ELIE - I'M GONNA TELL LAT ON YOU...WHEN HE GETS BACK, YOU'RE GONNA BE IN TROOOUUUUBLLE!

Attn: ATL Readers

"We are actively working to regulate speech via the Fairness Doctrine and your concerns will soon be addressed."

- the Democrat Party

CELTICS/BULLS TONIGHT!!! Anyone else excited?

CELTICS/BULLS TONIGHT!!! Anyone else excited?

298/301 - Pretty decent back tracking but you still an asshole.

- Not the other guy

This is incredibly sad. My thoughts go out to his family, friends and colleagues.

CELTICS/BULLS TONIGHT!!! Anyone else excited?

To 328: how does pointing out that the victim may have had a mental condition make commenter #320 a "liberal"?

Go back to listening to Rush Limbaugh and reading Ann Coulter and leave us more intelligent people alone.

Was this the guy who was trapped on that lifeboat with the Somali pirates?

331 - Give me a break. It's not about censorship, it's about ethics. Considering the fact that most of ATL's readership is comprised of self-centered sociopaths, ATL really should have had better taste than to allow comments on this post.

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328: Liberals would be posting comments like these if he DID die on a battlefield protecting people from foreign invasion.

# 331: You forgot to mention working to nationalize the newspapers in exchange for waivers of first amendment rights.

256, it's very possible to get into a good law school without financial connections. You know, being intelligent? The fact that you would latch on to that as an excuse just shows how stupid you are. Go back to studying for your Con Law final.

Showing pity for someone who commits suicide legitimatizes suicide. People who commit suicide are cowards. Period.

Pity the family? Yes. But do you really thinks it makes you a better/good/decent person if you are the 379th commentator on a blog to say, "Oh how tragic! Won't someone please think about the children?"

Thank you for listening to the Voice of Reason.

Why are the comments still on?

If calling a selfish prick makes me an asshole, then I am an asshole.

# 331: You forgot to mention working to nationalize the newspapers in exchange for waivers of first amendment rights.

Condolences to his family and friends. It is very sad to hear about the death of anyone in this profession.

344 sums this whole thread up nicely. Now you can turn the comments off.

The people demanding for the comments to be disable are the same people who go to church on Easter and Christmas and no other time during the year. Fuck you guys and your fake morality. I keeps it real.

Pardon the slant rhyme at the end:

A man for whose job we all pine
(making arguments to the Big Nine)
was clearly unstable,
and we're surely unable
to guess what pain lurked in his mind.

The people demanding for the comments to be disable are the same people who go to church on Easter and Christmas and no other time during the year. Fuck you guys and your fake morality. I keeps it real.

Thousands of our troops are waterboarded every year as part of their training, but not until it was done to Khalid Sheikh Mohammed -- mastermind of the 9/11 attack on America -- were liberal consciences shocked.

True story.

So was this guy laid-off or what?

Confirmation?

If so, sucks to be the person who made THAT decision...

The decedent was obviously transported to his office from another location when he was already dead, so this could not have been a suicide. Guns are illegal in DC.

I'm demanding for you to STFU and not come back until you learn how to write.

Please remove my comment. It doesn't add anything and I find it offensive. Thank you.

For anyone who has worked with the deceased, please keep the stories coming. I think most normal people enjoy reading those and are ignoring most everything else that's been posted here.

306,

There's no hypocrisy, you stupid fuck. Are you as fucking stupid as Elie?

My heart does go out to his family. This is awful. At the same time, Elie is a stupid fuck for not closing the comments. I'm not telling him to close comments so that those expressing their anger that comments remain open are not given a chance to respond. That's just coincident with closing the thread. I'm telling him to close the thread so that dickwaters like PE are not afforded the opportunity to disparage an accomplished lawyer and a man they don't know.

The comments are ruthless in attacking Mr. Levy and I knew they would be. Elie needs to admit his mistake and close the fucking comments.

The firm called it "an unfortunate incident." Unfortunate incident! What disgusting, callous a-holes! I hope this reprehensible firm shuts down. Shame!!

343:

Well, if graduating from college and law school summa cum laude and phi betta kappa and having 3 post-graduate clerkships under my belt makes me "stupid" then I guess I stand guilty as charged. Perhaps I should have attended some prissy institution that is too "good" to actually give out grades.

The reality is that if you are not well-connected, independently wealthy, or part of a protected class, being "intelligent" isn't enough to get you into a so-called "top-tier" law school with enough financial aid to actually attend.

Comment removed by moderator.

8 sincere comments about the situation
11 comments mocking the situation
244 comments about whether there should be comments

To everyone saying suicides are selfish cowards, I'll resist the urge to call you a heartless prick, and give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you don't know enough about depression. Congratulations for that, you're fortunate.

The tragedy is not merely the death, but that the death could have been prevented, perhaps, with a close friend, a good therapist, or a proper perscription. If you've never been in the depths of a clinical depression, you have no idea what you're talking about. And it is a recognized illness. If you think depressed people should just 'man up' then you're delusional.. brain chemistry is still chemistry, and just because it don't bleed doesn't mean it isn't a wound.

Elie won't turn off the comments b/c he's waitinf or someone to confirm he was laid off.

So sad.

Comment removed by moderator.

You are sick for continuing to post these comments. Your readers are sick for posting the comments.
All the talk about "you can not look at the comments" come from sick people.
And, thank you 62. 84, there ARE people who are attorneys - even in NY - who are decent, hard-working people who do not get off on others tragedies, sadness, and failures. Some of us simply read the comments because it gives us perspective on the types of people with whom we work.

Please - just kill this article. Its not helping your cause.

The smug ones on this board are NOT the ones calling out insensitive commenters, they’re the insensitive pricks who think they’re so strong by calling suicide cowardly. Bully for you, fucko, for never having known depression! Go drink your Jack Daniels, or beat your wife, or whore around for self respect, or whatever. That’s the right way to man up and handle your emotions, right? God forbid you be so sensitive as to understand your own human feelings and fall into their grasp! Depression is an illness. Bastards.

Elie posted that the comments confirmed that he was laid off. I've been skimming, but I can't find that. Where is that confirmation?

114 nails it.

As long as we're speculating here as to the reasons that this man took his own life, let me point something out: he did it in the office. That indicates to me that (i) he wanted to send a message to his firm and (ii) he did not want his family to be the first to discover his suicide.

In my opinion, this was a job-related action having little to do with his wife and children.

(I know that 362 is a troll but he got me thinking.)

361,

Wrong. Upper middle class white person here that did crappy at an elite liberal arts college. Scored relatively well on the LSAT. Got into CLS with no connections. Just encumbered the debt like everyone else.

Being intelligent was enough.

- Not 343

So the posts on this thread about "liberals" are surely coming from lefty trolls trying to make conservatives look callous - right?

Consider the following excerpts from the above story in tandem:

"We in the legal community are losing someone who is hard to replace," says Kilpatrick Stockton partner Dennis Gingold, who has worked with Levy and calls him one of the District's finest appellate lawyers. "This is a tough time."

- and -

Update (1:54): This story keeps getting sadder. Sources at Kilpatrick are now confirming that the attorney in question was in fact one of the attorneys that was let go on Tuesday.

Gingold, you should have spoken up yesterday.

constitutionparty.org

constitutionparty.org

"We in the legal community are losing someone who is hard to replace," says Kilpatrick Stockton partner Dennis Gingold. IF HE'S HARD TO REPLACE, WHY WAS HE LAID OFF???????????????????????????????????????????

371 - that might very well be a good call.

"We in the legal community are losing someone who is hard to replace," says Kilpatrick Stockton partner Dennis Gingold. IF HE'S HARD TO REPLACE, WHY WAS HE LAID OFF???????????????????????????????????????????

Scalia's recently discussed comment applies here. Too bad the liberals are too blinded by their faux outrage to appreciate it.

Comment removed by moderator.

I suppose his standing among the legal community wasn't bringing in any cheddar. I guess he wasn't that valuable.

Wow, how sad. I looked at his firm bio and he was a very accomplished attorney with over 34 years of experience. Yale undergrad/Yale law....part of the Clinton Administration. Just sad.

Makes me wonder why he did it. At this stage in his career, he should have had enough money saved for retirement and living. Losing his job at this stage is different than a first year with 150k in debt losing his job. I don't get it. Still very sad news.

Comment removed by moderator.

I am saddened by the depth of human scum on this posting board. If you are going to post vile comments, comment under your actual name so the world knows what a despicable person you are.

Wow, how sad. I looked at his firm bio and he was a very accomplished attorney with over 34 years of experience. Yale undergrad/Yale law....part of the Clinton Administration. Just sad.

Makes me wonder why he did it. At this stage in his career, he should have had enough money saved for retirement and living. Losing his job at this stage is different than a first year with 150k in debt losing his job. I don't get it. Still very sad news.

I suppose his standing among the legal community wasn't bringing in any cheddar. I guess he wasn't that valuable.

Very sad for his family. You give your life to the firm, they need to reduce the denominator to boost PPP, and after years of service, you're let go. I'm surprised more of this hasn't happened.

LOL AT COMMENTERS POSTING COMMENTS ASKING THAT THE COMMENTS BE TURNED OFF

They've updated that post on BLT to reflect that Gingold is a solo practitioner. He does not work at Kilpatrick Stockton.

This is a sad day for his family, friends, and colleagues. It is sad for me to hear about it.

It is sad, too, to read the comments here. The comments here are truly the equivalent of a bunch of monkeys flinging poo at each other -- with some exceptions. I suppose that's what you get with faceless anonymity. If some of you spoke this way in public, you'd have been quietly killed some time ago.

Upon seeing that comments were not turned off, I relied on the decency of my fellow human beings. I think, objectively, that my reliance was reasonable. To the extent these comments result in some cognizable detriment to me, I think (but am still unsure whether) I have a cause of action against all of you.

Where can I find more information about this claim?

Some of the above comments are disgusting and disgraceful. Allowing people to comment anonymously demeans this website.

That being said, the out-of-office reply message quoted in the original post reveals a mindset that is truly tragic.

He just had a big 9-0 win @ the SCOTUS a couple of months ago in an ERISA case:

http://origin.www.supremecourtus.gov/docket/07-636.htm

Not a slam dunk case by any means.

Comment removed by moderator.

The commenters presuming to know WHY he chose to take his life are even more offensive than those making irreverent jabs at his decision.

Oh, and 324:

"Suicide is the most selfish of a narcissist's long list of selfish acts.

It's not all about you. Remember that."

Neither is it all about you, although often those who evoke sentiments similar to yours conveniently choose to overlook this relatively important fact. Get the fuck over yourself. The idea that a person suffering from unbearable pain should prolong their existence merely to make others happy is myopic at best and narcissistic at worst.

Most suicide victims exhibit profound signs of mental illness for months, even years, before they take their own lives. Sometimes, "family and friends" sit by and do nothing, either out of fear, laziness or self-absorption. Tell me who is the coward then.

A tip for you: learn a little something about actual narcissism before waxing philosophical about it. Another tip: look in the mirror.

Some of the above comments are disgusting and disgraceful. Allowing people to comment anonymously demeans this website.

That being said, the out-of-office reply message quoted in the original post reveals a mindset that is truly tragic.

Well, that does it for me. I'm not reading ATL any longer. I tolerated the horrible writing. I tried to ignore the blatant political bias. I tried to ignore most of the commenters.

But I will not support a project authored by people - Elie, I'm looking mostly at you - who have so little humanity and sensitivity that they can't recognize when it's time to turn down the lights and show some respect.

Elie, you know how disgusting and inhumane 50% of ATL commenters are. You knew that this comment thread would go to the point it's now reached. And yet, you took no action to respect this man's life, family and co-workers by closing or moderating the thread. I can only conclude that you are either blind and insensitive beyond belief, or a heartless, amoral reprobate.

In either case, I will not support your work. Goodbye.

He just had a big 9-0 win @ the SCOTUS a couple of months ago in an ERISA case:

http://origin.www.supremecourtus.gov/docket/07-636.htm

Not a slam dunk case by any means.

Wait, the firm let go of the head of the Supreme Court and Appellate Practice Group? And he's argued 16 cases in front of the Supreme Court? Something tells me this gentleman was not a) lacking for work, and b) unable to find employment elsewhere. His suicide must be the product of some other cause.

Late term abortions: A-OK -- demonize, dehumanize, and destroy any one who objects.

Posting comments about lawyer who committed suicide: Verboten -- shut the comments off ASAP!!

The Age of Bizarro is upon us.

Let's take it for what it is guys. Whoever is saying it is his wifes fault is probably right. As we now find out he was a solo...and was not laid off by Kilpatrick as his only source of income. It seems likely his wife was just nagging so much

He just had a big 9-0 win @ the SCOTUS a couple of months ago in an ERISA case:

http://origin.www.supremecourtus.gov/docket/07-636.htm

Not a slam dunk case by any means.

That update with his email auto-reply is chilling. The whole thing reminds me of a ritual suicide like seppuku - quite the opposite of cowardice. I feel horrible for his family, but it's hard to deny that he went out on his own terms.

My thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues.

May he rest in peace.

397,

On behalf of the ATL community, we will all miss you dearly. Your absence will be tangible.

Regards,
Us

AT 313 --

Good post. The Wire gives me joy on a tough day.

Maybe Elie hasn't disable the comments because he's taking a long, protracted dump in the offices of ATL. Who knows how long that will take. Patience my young padawans.

He lost his job. Felt he was shamed. Killed himself. Depressed? Please.

I'm with 101. Decedent = 3. Horrible words, but not the words of a sane man. Very sad.

These comments aren't that bad when you stop and read them. True, there are one or two that take it to the next level trying to get a rise out of people, but most of the comments people are upset about, which are along the lines of not providing sympathy to a person who committed suicide, is actually quite a reasonable argument, but one those offended just happen to disagree with. Out of 400 odd comments here provided in complete anonymity, I would have expected much worse.

I too generally believe that suicide is very selfish and narcissistic.

That said, couldn't a suicide be a byproduct of the *opposite* of narcissim -- i.e., that you kill your self thinking that nobody will care?

I'm with 101. Decedent = 3. Horrible words, but not the words of a sane man. Very sad.

"After April 30, 2009 I can no longer be reached . . ."
Wow!! Amazing to set an out of office greeting before shooting yourself. Greatest email ever though. Props to the guy for going out with crazy style.

Comment removed by moderator.

383 - Probably depressed over the loss of his identity, although I can't see how this would be rational with how well respected he was in the appellate bar.

Depression isn't always rational.

391 - reasonable reliance? Sounds like you have a promissory estoppel claim. Check out Restatement 2d Section 90. I'm serious.

I too generally believe that suicide is very selfish and narcissistic.

That said, couldn't a suicide be a byproduct of the *opposite* of narcissim -- i.e., that you kill your self thinking that nobody will care?

I'm with 101. Decedent = 3. Horrible words, but not the words of a sane man. Very sad.

Comment removed by moderator.

We all need to understand that mentally unstable people cannot be "rationalized." I agree, the most logical cause is that his wife was pressuring him so much. But (and I am no psych) mentally unstable people often create problems that are not real and this drives them to the brink of insanity. Obviously Mr. Levy could not keep it under control any longer. It is indeed sad when this sort of thing happens :( I feel horrible if he had kids, especially with the media attention this will likely get and the constant reminder they will deal with.

Mr. Levy taught my appellate litigation class. From my dealings with him, he seemed to be a very nice, intelligent person. I am very sorry to hear this.

I'm with 101. Decedent = 3. Horrible words, but not the words of a sane man. Very sad.

391 - reasonable reliance? Sounds like you have a promissory estoppel claim. Check out Restatement 2d Section 90. I'm serious.

FAKE STORY. FALSE ALARM.

It's the LAW that you cannot carry a gun to work in D.C.

Clearly, D.C.'s gun control laws work well. SO this couldn't have happened.

FAKE STORY. FALSE ALARM.

I'm with 101. Decedent = 3. Horrible words, but not the words of a sane man. Very sad.

Elie, you really need to call Lat on vacation -- right now -- and ask whether to shut the comments off. This thread is a disgrace for ATL.

If you are a partner that voted to lay this guy off, you should be ashamed. Greedy mother f#$ckers. You wanted to line your pockets just a little bit more, didn't you.

Shut down the comments

Shut down the comments

Shut down the comments

Shut down the comments

Shut down the comments

Shut down the comments

Shut down the comments

Shut down the comments

Shut down the comments

Shut down the comments

Shut down the comments

Comment removed by moderator.

This is disgusting. Why have the comments on? Why not delete them all after seeing what was posted? Are you that despicable of a person, Elie? You find this in some way amusing?

Type a few words in a search engine about this incident and you are lead to find this post. His kids, wife, friends, and family could read this thread. Show some respect, some decency.

Seriously folks, has anyone heard that Mr. Levy was laid off? It could very well be the case that he is one of those folks who are spectacular in their profession but who battle mental illness their whole life.

I don't know why KS would lay this guy off. It doesn't fit.

417: That is precisely the point.

Most people who commit suicide do so because they feel as though they cannot go on, and that their lives are meaningless. People who often *threaten* suicide are usually the ones who are just seeking attention. Those who feel as though life is not worth completing tend to go quietly, without alerting others to their intent (although they often demonstrate other signs of depression and mental illness that can be observed by those who care enough to look for the signs).

Sadly, many victims' beliefs that no one will care is fueled by the fact that their lives are filled with people who view suicide as nothing more than a "selfish" or "narcissistic" act. Pot, meet kettle.

Mark was a knowledgeable and thoughtful observer of the Supreme Court, helpful to me as a journalist on many occasions. I'm very sad to learn of this tragedy.
Ken Jost, CQ Press

THIS SHOULD HELP:

Note to friends:

Please don't read an of the 400+ comments above. Thx.

SHUT THE COMMENTS ELIE. THIS IS SICK.

That IS a creepy out of office

I'm enjoying how quick anonymous people are to post "fuck him" and other cold sentiments. Pretend lawyers are shocking!

This isn't the plot of "Damages." The correct reaction is to understand that Mark Levy was an accomplished brilliant person who killed himself for unknowable reasons. His decision to end his life is a tragedy that warrants compassion from all who view themselves as stronger.

440 - Because this thread already got 440 comments. That's why Elie didn't turn comments off.

Making fun of every single thing about a person's life is fine, even welcomed, on this site.

"[Your school] is a TTT"
"[Your firm] is a TTT"
"[Your city] is a TTT"
"Your politics suck, your religion sucks, your way of life sucks...everything about you sucks"

But when somebody kills himself, that same person who, in life, you would have freely dismantled as being complete garbage, or stood back and watched other people gleefully do the same...now you tell us we need to show solemn reverence.

You're disgusting.

it is entirely possible i am not worth it.

that sucks...i really feel for his family.

May he rest in peace.

I usually try to defend Elie from the haters, but for this moron to enable comments on a tragic story like this, but to disable them on self-serving posts about some lame-ass internet blog award voting bullshit is incredibly pathetic.

Elie, I don't know what you're trying to prove, but out of respect for any loved one who may come across this bullshit you really should think about disabling the comments. On the other hand, you can do nothing and go to bed knowing you're a piece of shit.

I don't think there is another profession out there whose members would react in a manner similarly disgusting. Seriously, can you imagine what the corresponding thread would be on a website for, say, doctors or teachers or soldiers? It would be a 400-comment long expression of condolences.

Are lawyers really such scumbags?

This story is heart-breaking...and reading the comments makes me lose faith in humanity.

361--I think it's spelled "beta" in "phi beta kappa".

Maybe a misspelling (or several) on your apps kept you out of a top law school.

just sayin'.

# 453: What, are you trying to do? Make us look bad?

Elie show some respect to the family and friends and REMOVE THE COMMENTS.

453 - do you realize what a small percentage of actual lawyers read this site?

449 - it is NOT fine OR welcomed. it is tolerated because there's nothing the other readers can do about it. in this instance, try to show some respect.

Comments should be left open, but people should have the decency to control themselves. That they cannot is nearly as sad as the news of Mark Levy's death. What an embarrassment. Condolences to his family.

One month ago, my father, in the throes of a severe clinical depression, killed himself. My father loved his wife and kids, and he was not a coward.

Severe clinical depression has nothing to do with having a bad day or just feeling down. Unless you have been around it, you have no business talking about it. Trust me. It's a million times worse than you can possible imagine.

453 - How do you know that the people on here are lawyers?

WHAT A SAD WASTE...

OF A 420TH COMMENT!

HEY #420, WAY TO BE CREATIVE THERE, BUB!

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE GET TO 420 BY 3 PM, IN LIKE EVER, AND YOU BLOW IT...

SPEAKING OF BLOWING IT, HAS ANYBODY SEEN MY BONG?

--MIKEY PHELPS

Lawyers don't read this site. It's a bunch of law students.

These comments are absolutely disgusting. No wonder people hate lawyers. Have some tact and shut these comments down.

WHAT A SAD WASTE...

OF A 420TH COMMENT!

HEY #420, WAY TO BE CREATIVE THERE, BUB!

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE GET TO 420 BY 3 PM, IN LIKE EVER, AND YOU BLOW IT...

SPEAKING OF BLOWING IT, HAS ANYBODY SEEN MY BONG?

--MIKEY PHELPS

454 - if you've lost faith in humanity, then believe in godzuki... we are not the waves that crash into the sand beds, rather we are the ocean that remains...

Okay, so the comments thread won't get shut down, but when someone suggests that Comment #3 in the KS thread from yesterday (http://abovethelaw.com/2009/04/nationwide_layoff_watch_kilpat_1.php?show=comments#comments) was the deceased, Elie goes and deletes it. What gives Elie? You are one weird dude.

"Please, please, if you are feeling depressed, seek professional help." -- is this a joke? this is how you rationalize the way you've covered this story? a new low, guys. you should be ashamed.

These comments are absolutely disgusting. No wonder people hate lawyers. Have some tact and shut these comments down.

I think 454 summed this up best. This is one story I wish ATL didn't publish and, at the very least, didn't allow comments on. I checked the comments only because I hoped there wouldn't be the typical jackass comments I see on this site...unfortunately, I was wrong and I'm shocked by what some people had to say. ATL-- please shut down the comments and please, in the future, post stories like this one more tastefully and with greater respect to the attorney's family and friends. I hate to think that this gentleman's family or friends could come across this site and read some of this while they are grieving their lost loved one.

The many misspellings herein by attorneys and future attorneys would be heartbreaking to my High School English teachers.

Sloppy.

It's a little odd that people who wish there weren't any comments keep reading and posting more of them.

468,
What did 3 say yesterday?

Dude, WTF would ATL shut off comments on this post? There are OVER 450 comments. 450!!!! I'm not saying they're psyched this happened, but since they didn't cause it to happen, and all they're doing is reporting it, its cool if they get some hits off it...

467-You need to change your tampon

Lame. I would have gone with: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9ARbKvUyUM

Can someone please explain (as I don't want to read all 476 comments to figure this out)

So, this guy Levy shot himself at the firm. Was Levy still employed by the firm, or was he laid off? Was Levy a partner?

How is a guy who is the chair of the firm's appellate practice with16 Supreme Court cases under his belt 1) not a partner and 2) getting laid off?

Does anyone know?
What did 3 say yesterday that was so crazy?

Sometimes its hard to take abovethelaw & its comments seriously when there is a post like this. What a poor reflection. I can't believe people care about what you think sometimes.

I am confused about the following:

1. Was Levy laid off? If so, what was he doing at the firm?

2. Was Levy a partner/associate/counsel before (if) he was terminated?

3. Are people thinking that Levy changed his e-mail message, or the change was done by someone at the firm after he died?

Thank you in advance to whomever answers.....

Sometimes its hard to take abovethelaw & its comments seriously when there is a post like this. What a poor reflection. I can't believe people care about what you think sometimes.

Just throwing it out there, but a possible motive here is that he was relying on the firm's continuing to give him a good salary and it ceased to do so to his detriment. I think generally his reliance is reasonable. Of course, a better way to handle the stress would have been to consult the Restatement of Contracts, probably somewhere between sections 89 and 91.

Just my two cents.

This is my first post ever, and I agree that the moderators have shown poor judgment by allowing commentary on this post. It's clearly a cheap ploy for them to boost web traffic in the hopes of wringing more $$$ from potential advertisers. Their mercenary motive is disgusting, and the thought that this person's family members might happen upon these comments is saddening. I'm not one to boycott, but I will not be back to this Blog for a while.

Don't lose faith in humanity because of a few ignorant, frightened, arrogant souls who post their spiteful, insensitive blather on ATL. Rather, remember that people who lack compassion and understanding are acting on assumptions; they are misinformed by choice or culture or circumstance. The act of taking one's life is rarely "selfish and narcissistic" but, rather, sprung from a deep turmoil that the clinically depressed battle on a daily basis. Mark Levy was triumphant over this disease for many many years -- otherwise he could not have had a long marriage, raised a beautiful child, and had an illustrious career in a demanding field. Clinical depression breaks people - even the best people.

Chet Baker, Anne Sexton, Paul Celan, Sigmund Freud, Hart Crane, Hemingway, Van Gogh, Virginia Woolf, John Berryman, Hans Fischer, Arthur Koestler, Mark Rothko, David Foster Wallace: they all died by their own hand. Far from selfish, they left the world with rich legacies and led lives more profound than most of whom post comments on ATL could ever hope to live.

I am confused about the following:

1. Was Levy laid off? If so, what was he doing at the firm?

Yes, but those laid off were given until Friday to leave their offices.

2. Was Levy a partner/associate/counsel before (if) he was terminated?

Partner, then counsel, then laid off.

3. Are people thinking that Levy changed his e-mail message, or the change was done by someone at the firm after he died?

I would assume Levy by its wording.

Thank you in advance to whomever answers.....

Look on the bright side. The Kilpatrick Stockton bonus pool just got bigger.

If he was such a great lawyer, why did Kilpatrick & Stockton's management decide to fire him?

I just received an email from the ABA (below). Talk about timely:

ABA Home ABA-CLE Store Calendar

What Lawyers Need to Know About Suicide During a Recession: Prevention, Identity and Law Firm Responsibility

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Suicide is our most preventable form of death. Many attorneys are in frequent contact with populations at elevated risk for suicide. In their professional roles, attorneys occupy a strategic position to intercept suicidal communications and identify and refer potentially suicidal clients, as well as employees and colleagues, for professional assessment and possible life-saving treatment. In addition Model Rule 1.14 gives the attorney broad power and responsibility when representing clients with diminished capacity.

Attorneys also have the highest rates of depression and suicide of any profession. Statistics suggest that the rate of suicide attempts among attorneys and their clients is increasing as the effects of the recession widen.

This program will address the ethical responsibility employers have to assist attorneys in their employ that may be suicidal. Participants of this program will also receive compact suicide prevention gatekeeper training that will help them identify the signs of depression and suicide that can lead to intervention and a saved life.

Additionally, registered participants may obtain QPR Gatekeeper Training at a special ABA discounted price. The online QPR Gatekeeper Training for Suicide Prevention program is a certified extended tutorial which teaches more about suicide, its causes, and how to conduct the QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) intervention strategy. For more information on the training: http://www.qprinstitute.com/gkonline.htm

I just received an email from the ABA (below). Talk about timely:

ABA Home ABA-CLE Store Calendar

What Lawyers Need to Know About Suicide During a Recession: Prevention, Identity and Law Firm Responsibility

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Suicide is our most preventable form of death. Many attorneys are in frequent contact with populations at elevated risk for suicide. In their professional roles, attorneys occupy a strategic position to intercept suicidal communications and identify and refer potentially suicidal clients, as well as employees and colleagues, for professional assessment and possible life-saving treatment. In addition Model Rule 1.14 gives the attorney broad power and responsibility when representing clients with diminished capacity.

Attorneys also have the highest rates of depression and suicide of any profession. Statistics suggest that the rate of suicide attempts among attorneys and their clients is increasing as the effects of the recession widen.

This program will address the ethical responsibility employers have to assist attorneys in their employ that may be suicidal. Participants of this program will also receive compact suicide prevention gatekeeper training that will help them identify the signs of depression and suicide that can lead to intervention and a saved life.

Additionally, registered participants may obtain QPR Gatekeeper Training at a special ABA discounted price. The online QPR Gatekeeper Training for Suicide Prevention program is a certified extended tutorial which teaches more about suicide, its causes, and how to conduct the QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) intervention strategy. For more information on the training: http://www.qprinstitute.com/gkonline.htm

500th!

Premature enumeration.

This is what happens when the Clintons get back in positions of power.

Any hints or connections?

488, you are really sick.

Yep. Comments are a bad idea, no doubt about it. I don't think reasonable people could differ on this. They should be shut off.

Despite all of the comments here, possibly some by actual lawyers, there is still honor in this profession. Unfortunately, it is not exhibited here.

To those who have made light (or worse) of this event on this thread: Consider this man's family members, who suffered none of the personal weaknesses or failings that led him as far as taking his own life, but must nonetheless suffer the consequences of his decision now. How would they feel reading your anonymous, ignorant smatterings about their father, husband, uncle...? How would YOUR family feel if it were YOU? YOUR wife/husband--the person who knows you more intimately than anyone else--learns of your suicide, then gets wind of this string of heartless commentary about YOU from a bunch of anonymous wimps who know nothing about YOU. How anyone can say such terrible things about a colleague--especially when all present here know the pressures that we all face daily, regardless of how we may deal with them--is beyond comprehension. I am ashamed that some of you are lawyers. I am even more ashamed that you are humans, capable of thought and compassion, yet unwilling to be anything but crass peckerwoods in this situation. Those of you making tasteless comments about the dead here, under the veil of anonymity, are the true cowards. You add nothing of value to this or any other discussion.

God--or whoever--bless this troubled man's soul and his family. His circumstances, reasons, weaknesses--they just don't matter now.

Hey guys, just got out of my Property final. I'm at a T17-20. What GPA do you think I need to get a Summer Associate position at Kilpatrick Stockton's DC office?

First!

who determines what's tasteless and what's not? I'm assuming the nazis on this board believe there is one way to look at things. You guys are something else.

Some of us don't believe suicide is an honorable way to go out. It might be clinical depression, it might not to be. From the looks of it, it doesn't appear as though it is.

496: this honorable profession apparently fires top DC attorneys in the name of PPP. Where's the honor in that?

who determines what's tasteless and what's not? I'm assuming the nazis on this board believe there is one way to look at things. You guys are something else.

Some of us don't believe suicide is an honorable way to go out. It might be clinical depression, it might not to be. From the looks of it, it doesn't appear as though it is.

Five Hundredth

I just want to applaud the fact that there don't appear to be any KS people on here talking about this.

Clearly this is not the right forum to deal with this event, and I know the KS people are handling it together and in their own way.

But a solid nod of the head should be given to the fact that not a single person at the firm was petty, vindictive, or self-aggrandizing enough to come to ATL and post "insider" information in the comments or get dragged into a useless debate with the trolls.

To everybody down the street at KS... god bless. Levy was a superb human being and lawyer, and his memory will surely be honored by those who truly knew him.

500,
stop being gay, it's a business. Nothing personal (godfather reference). You guys might as well support communism and give to everyone according to their needs. Then i'm sure you pricks will be happy until they take your crap away. Everyone knows how to spend other people's money.

500,

stop being gay, it's a business. Nothing personal (godfather reference). You guys might as well support communism and give to everyone according to their needs. Then i'm sure you pricks will be happy until they take your crap away. Everyone knows how to spend other people's money.

I just want to applaud the fact that there don't appear to be any KS people on here talking about this.

Clearly this is not the right forum to deal with this event, and I know the KS people are handling it together and in their own way.

But a solid nod of the head should be given to the fact that not a single person at the firm was petty, vindictive, or self-aggrandizing enough to come to ATL and post "insider" information in the comments or get dragged into a useless debate with the trolls.

To everybody down the street at KS... god bless. Levy was a superb human being and lawyer, and his memory will surely be honored by those who truly knew him.

The Aristocrats!!!!

honest question:

Did the firm have an insurance policy that paid out to the family of an attorney dying while employed by the firm? I'm assuming I'm completely off base like usual, but if there was such a policy, it could have been a contributing factor to his decision to commit suicide.

If this was asked previously in the thread, I apologize.

For you assholes who are denigrating this man, take a look at his profile on Martindale. This was not some schmuck...he was a talented individual who deserves to be respected and honored.

http://www.martindale.com/Mark-I-Levy/362498-lawyer.htm

508 - that is some impressively depressing issue-spotting

508 - a suicide can't collect life insurance (although it does entitle the insured to a refund of premiums).

I just hope if anyone out there has any suicidal thoughts, that he or she seek out professional help. I didn't know this man, but I feel for his family. I'm sorry he felt that this was the only way to deal with his issues. Take care out there, and please don't be afraid to seek out help.

Disable comments you money-grubbing advertiser fee collecting asshats!!!

515+ posts, and there are still more GWU kids to come.

770. Never forget.

1. What did his email reply say that was so weird?

2. What did commenter 3 yesterday say?

3. What is the all time record for comments on an ATL thread and can we break it today IN HONOR OF MR. LEVY? As a final tribute? Seriously,

-FB

This has an eerie Michael Claytonesque feel to it.

I wish the best for his family.

For those posters on this board who have not dealt with serious depression, please be quiet. The notion of "do this, do that, just don't kill yourself" is a reasoning process employed by people who are not depressed. Depressed individuals feel inexorably hopeless beyond anything we can imagine. We don't know exactly what caused this tragedy for this gentleman's family and freinds, as well as himself, but judgment is completely inappropriate, particularly in light of the fact that we simply don't know.

For those posters on this board who have not dealt with serious depression, please be quiet. The notion of "do this, do that, just don't kill yourself" is a reasoning process employed by people who are not depressed. Depressed individuals feel inexorably hopeless beyond anything we can imagine. We don't know exactly what caused this tragedy for this gentleman's family and freinds, as well as himself, but judgment is completely inappropriate, particularly in light of the fact that we simply don't know.

502... fail.

Suicide always voids insurance policies

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A lot of firms have been doing stealth "de-partnering" over the past few years. Instead of laying off a partner, or waiting until the normal retirement process starts, they'll cut a buyout over a few years or make the partner go of counsel. It's all about what you have in your book of clients and how tight you are with the management committee.

Look at this man's CV, he had all the credentials in the world; he'd done everything the old-fashioned way, through hard work and intelligence, but he was told to leave his firm. Where could he have gone for another job?

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You folks are wrong about suicide voiding insurance policies. There is a 2 year exemption clause -- after that, it's lifted. The insurance companies feel that if someone is suicidal and takes out a policy - -they are likely going to commit suicide within the 2 years.

Don't any of you lawyers have life insurance? Read your policies!

Yeah, the only way the bloodsucking partners fire a big-shot service attorney like this (who does all of the partners' work for them but doesn't have his own book) is
(1) if the guy keeps whipping his dick out in junior associates' offices or
(2) keeps talking about "those goddam niggers" taking over or
(3) lets his drinking problem show during a client meeting.

There's a real story/scandal here underneath this . . . anyone with any real gossip about the cause of his Frontal Lobe Trauma?

You folks are wrong about suicide voiding insurance policies. There is a 2 year exemption clause -- after that, it's lifted. The insurance companies feel that if someone is suicidal and takes out a policy - -they are likely going to commit suicide within the 2 years.

Don't any of you lawyers have life insurance? Read your policies!

The partners who decided to lay this man off will have this on their consciences for the rest of their lives. Their lives are ruined. They will not be able to live normal, productive lives. Stress will lessen their lifespans. There are no winners here.

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Such a talent wasted.

http://www.kilpatrickstockton.com/attorneys/detail.aspx?ID=12961&pglist=&stlist=

520 = fail

It usually only voids the payout for the first two years.

500: 496 here. Nobody said firing this guy was honorable. It's terrible and unfortunate. But dishonorable things happen in this, and every, profession every day. That does not make the profession, itself, dishonorable--and it does not give the jack-asses who have written on this threa