Lawyers Defend Long-Distance Supervision of Overwhelmed Associate

lab
Jun 10, 2008 10:41 AM CST

Did it ever occur to these supervising attorneys that they needed to physically visit their other offices to personally touch base with what is happening?  Whatever happened to designating a supervising attorney in that more distant office?  Where are the business management skills here?

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Lemon Hater
Jun 13, 2008 5:53 AM CST

I wish the Maryland court could suspend them for the crime of using one of the most annoying jingles ever in an advertisement.  That song gets under my skin everytime I hear it . . . Driving a lemon, make the call . . .

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Carlos C. Alsina Batista
Jun 13, 2008 6:49 AM CST

Given that discovery requests are not electronically filed, there is no way the supervising attorneys could reasonably claim that checking the electronic docket was enough to keep up with the cases. Without a doubt, many dimissals under Rule 37(b)(2)(C) for failing to answer discovery were going to be inevitable. The liability must be considerable.

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Friend of Craig and Rob
Jun 13, 2008 8:12 AM CST

I actually worked with Craig (and Rob) in Philly when we were fresh out of law school and struggling at a tiny firm during the early ‘90s recession.  I went to a top ten law school and these guys did not.  When the economy rebounded, I was able to return to a large law firm making a decent salary and these guys teamed up, went out on their own, established a niche practice in lemon law and, fewer than 10 years later, they were rich…. good for them and I hope they win!

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Friend of Craig and Rob
Jun 13, 2008 11:02 AM CST

Craig and Rob have helped thousands of consumers who were ripped off by the auto manufacturers achieve justice; their work throughout the years more than militates against any lapses in judgment they might have had in supervising a distant associate.  We need more consumer-advocate fighters like these two guys.  And you know what, they are actually pretty likable, decent men who were fun to be around (even though I haven’t seen them in years).

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Ron
Jun 13, 2008 11:49 AM CST

As to #9 - So, your logic means, because I’ve let thousands live, I shouldn’t be in trouble for killing that one.  If these guys weren’t properly supervising, they were irresponsible (even if fun) and should be on the hook to the 34 clients whose cases got dismissed.

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Maria
Jun 17, 2008 8:59 AM CST

Sounds like inadequate supervision was a problem here - but I disagree with the apparent premise that supervision by phone calls and email is inherently inadequate.  In my opinion, many associates would be perfectly capable of functioning as effective and ethical advocates for their clients despite the fact that their supervising attorneys are remote.  When I was an associate, very few of the partners I worked with would literally review the files of my cases - they would just check in with me frequently to make sure things were on track.  They could have done that as easily by phone or email as in person.

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