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Andrew Speaker

Morning Docket: 11.28.07

* Oral argument in New Jersey v. Delaware. [U.S. Supreme Court (PDF) via How Appealing]

* I'll have a Joey Bag of Lawsuits. [AP via Atlanta Journal-Constitution]

* TB Andy didn't hurt anybody. [Atlanta Journal-Constitution]

* Grandpa got screwed over by a lawsuit ... [AP via Reno Gazette-Journal]

* Pakistan lets (almost) everyone go, but will the rule of law return? [Jurist]

Non-Sequiturs: 09.14.07

* Can a shoe infringe on copyright? [Fashionista]

* Maybe there IS such a thing as bad publicity. Business ain't so hot for "TB Andy" right now. [WSJ Law Blog]

* Some Chemerinskygate updates. [TaxProf Blog; TaxProf Blog]

* Thinking of a career as a professional blogger? Read this first. [Career Journal]

Morning Afternoon Docket: 07.16.07

Andrew Speaker 2 small Andrew H Speaker Andrew Harley Speaker Andy Speaker.JPG* What will become of Justice O'Connor's precedent? [Slate]

* Baseball agent gets prison for smuggling clients. [ESPN]

* Civil suit vs. TB Andy. [CNN]

* Civil verdict vs. Allen Iverson. [ESPN]

Don't Fly With Me, Andrew Speaker

Andrew Speaker 2 small Andrew H Speaker Andrew Harley Speaker Andy Speaker.JPGClick here to listen to a cute musical parody, to the tune of Don't Cry for Me, Argentina.

Don't Fly With Me, Andrew Speaker [Dave Ross (mp3)]

Andrew Speaker: He's No Mr. Popularity

As you could probably tell from the results thus far in our reader polls, Georgia lawyer Andrew Speaker -- the patient with drug-resistant tuberculosis, who engaged in extensive air travel despite knowing of his condition -- hasn't exactly endeared himself to the world.

If you run a search for "Andrew Speaker" on Facebook, here's what you get:

Facebook Andrew Speaker Andy Speaker groups Abovethelaw Above the Law blog.jpg

We don't endorse what Andy Speaker did; but we find these anti-Andy clubs a bit over-the-top. If you're going to join a Facebook group centered on a specific individual, why not join one that's about celebration rather than condemnation?

Facebook Monica Goodling Monica M Goodling fan club Abovethelaw Above the Law blog.JPG

Search: Andrew Speaker [Facebook]
Monica Goodling Fan Club [Facebook]

TB Andy: What Do You Think?

Andrew Speaker Andrew H Speaker Andrew Harley Speaker Above the Law blog.jpgYesterday's Lawyer of the Day here at ATL, Andrew Speaker, is a 31-year-old personal injury lawyer from Atlanta. He is currently infected with a drug-resistant strain of tuberculosis. He got married and honeymooned in Europe, then returned home -- initially flying into Canada, from which he drove back to the United States -- to have his TB treated.

His critics argue that Andy Speaker, in traveling despite being urged not to by the CDC, endangered his fellow passengers, exposing them to a potentially fatal illness. His defenders point out that he is not symptomatic -- and that many of us might have done the same thing in his shoes.

Anyway, enough commentary. You've all read a great deal about this story already. Time for a pair of (unscientific and imprecise) reader polls:

The Drudge Report on 'TB Andy'

Thanks to commenter "legal beagle" for drawing our attention to what currently graces the Drudge Report. Our annotations appear in red.

Drudge Report TB Andy Speaker Andrew Speaker Andrew H Speaker Abovethelaw.JPG

Matt Drudge, you are a genius.

Exclusive: Diane Sawyer Speaks to TB Patient [ABC News via Drudge Report]

Still More on Andrew Speaker

Andrew Speaker Andrew H Speaker Andrew Harley Speaker Above the Law blog.jpgThe Atlanta lawyer who has been quarantined with a case of drug-resistant tuberculosis, Andrew H. Speaker, has become an overnight celebrity of the legal world. And we're happy to bring you more information about him.

First, from a fellow alum of the University of Georgia Law School, who knows Andrew Speaker personally:

He was a generally well-liked, pretty gregarious fellow, who did reasonably well in law school as far as I know.

I like it when a product of UGA Law makes the national news, but not this way!

Second, from the Denver Post:

[T]he patient, who had hastily left Rome earlier this week after CDC officials begged him to go into isolation at a hospital there, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Tuesday that he thought the security was excessive.

"I'm a very well-educated, successful, intelligent person," he told the paper. "This is insane to me that I have an armed guard outside my door when I've cooperated with everything other than the whole solitary-confinement-in-Italy thing."

Third, as several commenters pointed out, Speaker's wife, Sarah Cooksey, appears to have a personal website.

A screencap, plus links and more discussion, after the jump.

Continue reading "Still More on Andrew Speaker"

Andrew Speaker's Annotated Engagement Announcement

Here is the annotated engagement announcement for Andrew Speaker -- aka "The TB Guy," whom we just named our Lawyer of the Day -- and his wife, Sarah Cooksey.

It's a tale that's abounding in irony. Check it out:

Andrew Speaker wedding announcement Abovethelaw Above the Law blog.JPG

Engagements: Sarah Cooksey -- Andrew Speaker [Appen Newspapers]
New Father-in-Law a Microbiologist [Associated Press]

Lawyer of the Day: Andrew Speaker

Andrew Speaker Andrew H Speaker Andrew Harley Speaker Above the Law blog.jpgThe strikingly handsome Andrew Harley Speaker (at right) is a graduate of UGA Law, and a member of the Georgia bar. Earlier this month, he got married, and flew to Europe for his honeymoon. Congratulations, Andrew!

Andrew Speaker practices personal injury and family law in the Atlanta area. This doesn't sound like a recipe for fame. So why have we named him our Lawyer of the Day?

Well, Mr. Speaker has the potential to become one of the most influential lawyers of our time....

Update: More on Andrew Speaker appears here.

Tuberculosis Patient an Atlanta Lawyer [Associated Press]
Extreme TB Patient Taken To Denver [CBS News]
Andrew Speaker bio [The Speaker Law Firm, PC]