I haven’t blogged lately due to depositions, travel and general life, but had several issues which have been bumping around so lots to talk and comment about:

We are working on updating our website (I know — who knew that you have to update them more than once every 15 years and apparently spiders are good things). If you have any suggestions on must haves on a website let me know.

As I was driving my daughter to the airport at 5:00am drinking my coffee and listening to the sports radio about how Mario signed a deal for $100 million with $50 million guaranteed and Peyton was rumored to be signing a $95 million dollar deal I explained to my daughter that could have been me had I only been taller, stronger, faster, etc., etc.   I was just as good a player as them if you factor in those few minor differences.    Just like lawsuits.   I know that most of you have experienced the “I have a friend who had a case just like this one and they settled it for (fill in the blank – but it is a lot).”  Those darn minor differences kind of determine the true value of a case.   A back sprain is not the same as being paralyzed and a 6’0” slow linebacker is not the same as a monster defensive end or all everything quarterback, BUT it does lead to another issue… which is why is it that people seem to have no issue with an athlete or actor getting paid millions of dollars for the job they do but those same people believe that compensating a family for the injury suffered because of someone else carelessness is somehow wrong.  How much is the value of a mother, father, sister, and brother worth compared to how Mario or Peyton will do on Sunday?  I am all for them being paid the value of their worth, but also would like to see the same value be paid to the family who has suffered injury or death because of someone else.

Anyway, back to my driving along drinking my coffee.  I love coffee and I have some great friends who brought me some Columbian coffee which is amazing and may explain why my blogs are kind of a stream of consciousness event.  Anyway, Jessica mentioned how hot the coffee was which brings me to the topic of Hot Coffee and McDonalds.  You can see my prior blogs for a more in depth discussion, but for today I just want to remind you to check out the movie Hot Coffee (website link is http://hotcoffeethemovie.com/Default.asp).  You can also get it on Netflix.  Check it out and let me know what you think and if it changed your opinion on the case.

Big Oil – they are the problem with America – no wait that is trial lawyers.  Why should they get to take our top billing?  When I was last in Midland my nephew Todd asked if I had seen the movie spOILed.   When I told him no, he went (actually he asked Laura to go) and brought me two copies of the movie, one to watch and one to share.  Being the skilled negotiator I said sure, if you will watch Hot Coffee.  Todd, I expect you to comment about what you thought about Hot Coffee.  So we put the spOILed in and watched it at my brothers.  Understand that I am in oil country here and I guess because I am a plaintiffs trial lawyer I must be liberal and hate oil companies (I really don’t fit any of assumptions of what I must think or be – so that make me like – most everyone).  Anyway back to the movie.  It is great and I highly recommend it to everyone.  If you believe Big Oil is evil or if you believe Big Oil is great (don’t you love how it always Big Oil – see the movie for more information on that as well) see the movie.  One thing that struck me is the actual profit margin for oil companies. I would tell you, but why ruin the movie.  The other thing that struck me is how you could replace the term oil company with trial lawyer and most of the things said are familiar to those of us representing plaintiffs who have been injured or killed.  Regardless of your opinion of oil companies, check out the movie and let me know what you think.  Same with Hot Coffee, watch it, drink it and let me know about it.

Facebook- I have written about this before in the context of claims and litigation, but in the news today it was pointed out how some companies now request/require job applicants to allow them access to their Facebook page before they are hired and in many cases during the interview they are asked to log on so they can check it out.  What do you think?  If you are an attorney should you have a prospective client give you access to their Facebook and other social media pages before you decide to represent them?  What about twitter accounts, etc. etc.?  Is it acceptable or not?  Why?  If you think no problem, I don’t have anything bad on my account (or I deleted it before the interview), what about your friends account which might now be accessed as you have permission to see them (and now whoever is logged on as you can see your friends pages).  What about that picture of you that you deleted or never saw, but your friend has it on their page?  Facebook is it really your friend or just a twit?

What do you think about these issues?  (other than man you need to cut back on the coffee)