"Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more; it is a tale told by an idiot , full of sound and fury, signifying nothing" Macbeth, Act V, Scene V.
I know I've said it before, but I'll say it again: clients come and go, but an attorney's reputation lives forever. Not only that, but the attorney with whom you have a case today may very well be on the opposing side of another case down the road. Attorneys, just like anyone else, have long memories, both for the good and the bad. Treat me with disrespect today, and you may well live to regret it tomorrow. You would think most attorneys would get that. You would think that most attorneys listened to their grandmas when they told them they get more flies with honey than with vinegar. You would be wrong. At least a couple of times a year, I am treated to an attorney who seems bent on being unreasonable and nasty. It just happened again. An attorney on the other side of a case asked for an extra two weeks to respond to some documents. We here in the trenches were happy to agree. Then, he asked for another week, which we gave, and then yet another week. We said "no." He responded by demanding that our response to the documents he sent us, and which were not due until 5:00pm today - be provided immediately. Ours were ready to go out, so no big deal. But, really? What did he think that got him? Less than nothing, because not only will we not give him any slack ever again, but we will also be sure the court knows of his behavior. Does he really think his behavior helps his client? I hope he feels better, taking his ball and going home, because he is truly like the quotation from Macbeth: full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
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