Trials & Litigation
Lawyer’s Lucky Shoes Spur Motion to Compel Appropriate Footwear
Posted Jul 10, 2009 12:41 PM CST
By Debra Cassens Weiss
A Florida plaintiffs lawyer who doesn’t like the holes in his opponent’s tasseled loafers has filed a “motion to compel defense counsel to wear appropriate shoes at trial.”
The motion, filed in Palm Beach County, was denied, the Palm Beach Post reports.
Bill Bone of Larmoyeux & Bone claimed in the motion that defense lawyer Michael Robb has a habit of wearing shoes with holes in the soles while on trial as "a ruse to impress the jury and make them believe that Mr. Robb is humble and simple without sophistication." During the case, Robb will throw out statements such as “I’m just a simple lawyer,” suggesting that the plaintiff and his lawyer are not as sincere and down to earth, according to the motion.
Robb told the Palm Beach Post that he wears the Cole Haan loafers for a couple reasons—but not the ones outlined by Bone. "I've had pretty good luck with these shoes," Robb said. "They're comfortable and I wear them. … They’re my trial shoes.”
Above the Law published the motion.
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Comments
sumppump
Jul 10, 2009 2:26 PM CST
If he’s an insurance defense attorney - he probably is not able to afford to purchase a new pair of “lucky shoes.”
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Old Lawyer
Jul 13, 2009 10:37 AM CST
If he’s an insurance defense lawyer, he may not even have any “lucky” shoes.
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mac
Jul 13, 2009 10:46 AM CST
Why didn’t you report the whole story. The motion got the notice of a local newspaper humor columnist, who then spoke to each attorney so he could write a humor column about it. The attorneys told the columnist not to print the article before the jury decided the case, but the columnist refused to hold the story, saying it was “not his responsibility”, and it was printed, and sure enough someone on the jury read the article, and the case was declared a mistrial. The attorney who wrote the memo against the shoes lost a $2+ million judgment because the columnist wouldn’t hold the column.
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LAB
Jul 13, 2009 1:34 PM CST
Counsel should be counseled to obtain a proper pair of shoes and to attire himself with professionalism when appearing before the Court. Counsel is no different than the staff who is required to follow a dress code for professionalism.
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