In CT we are confronting this very safety issue as we speak. Tomorrow, I
believe, is the one year anniversary of a courthouse shooting at which the
husband surprised his wife and her lawyer, who drove to court together, in the
courthouse parking lot. The husband shot and killed his wife, shot his wife's
attorney 4 times leaving her for dead but miraculously she survived although
still suffers tremendous physical and emotional injuries, and then killed
himself. They were in the midst of a custody trial. The wife's lawyer just
brought a civil suit against the state alleging that the state should have
warned her that the husband tried to bring a gun into the courthouse during the
trial.
Yes, litigation is scary and dangerous. I think though that collaborative
professionals cannot afford to have a false sense of security. We need to be
vigilant, maintain boundaries and remember that even in the relatively safe
environment we provide, clients can snap.
James Hallett <jmhallettlaw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I wonder how many jurisdictions have experienced this. Here in Los Angeles
County, none of us has recovered or ever will recover the world we enjoyed
before Norwalk Family Law Commissioner George Taylor and his wife were shot to
death in their driveway at home--maybe 5 years ago, I'm guessing. The Sheriff
has extensively investigated this case and has announced that almost certainly
a disgruntled litigant committed the crime, but insufficient evidence exists to
prosecute. I confess that my collaborative blood boils when I read the nasty
letters I too often get from my litigious fellow lawyers. They are yelling
"Fire" in a crowded movie theater. How much longer will we lawyers, in the name
of promoting civility among lawyers, continue to countenance this inflammatory
behavior?
___________________________________________________________________
James M. Hallett, CFLS, CCLS, (State Bar of California, Board of Legal
Specialization)
Law Offices of James M. Hallett
1001 Sixth Street, Suite 120
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
310-376-3374
310-318-0709 (Fax)
jmhallettlaw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.jmhallettlaw.com
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----- Original Message -----
From: Janice Pardue
To: CollabLaw@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2006 2:06 PM
Subject: RE: [CollabLaw] Family Court Jugde shooting in Reno
Very frightening, and sad. My thoughts go out to him and his family, and
the entire family bar.
This is an issue that concerns all in the area of Family Law. Our judges
are trying to get the sheriff's dept. to provide additional security at our
Family Law Center, especially on the days that they hear protective order
cases. We are in a woefully inadequate building in which folks are on top
of each other in the halls.
Janice
_____
From: CollabLaw@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:CollabLaw@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Kim Surratt
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2006 3:44 PM
To: CollabLaw@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: [CollabLaw] Family Court Jugde shooting in Reno
We are very panicked in Reno right now. However, the Nation should know
that he was shot in the shoulder/chest that he was breathing and conscious
upon arrival at the hospital here in Reno. The sniper has yet to be caught.
We are all staying away from the court house. Judge Weller does support our
Reno Practice Group. Please wish the best for him.
Best regards,
Kimberly M. Surratt, Esq.
Jenkins Law Office, PC
423 W. Plumb Lane
Reno, Nevada 89509
-----Original Message-----
From: CollabLaw@yahoogrou ps.com
[mailto:CollabLaw@yahoogrou ps.com]On
Behalf Of Robert Lueck
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2006 12:33 PM
To: CollaborativeProfessionals of Nevada
Cc: CollabLaw@yahoogrou ps.com
Subject: [CollabLaw] Family Court Jugde shooting in Reno
To my collaborative law colleagues in Nevada and the United States:
I am sad to advise that one of my judicial friends and a strong supporter
of collaborative divorce, Judge Chuck Weller in Reno, Nevada, was shot about
11:15 am PST inside the Family Court building in Reno. Chuck became
interested in collaborative in the spring of 2004 at a family law conference
where I was one of the presenters on CD. He then ran for and was elected as
a Family Court Judge in Reno in the fall of the 2004. While on a business
trip to Reno in February of this year, I had lunch with him and discussed CD
and mediation programs.
I am respectfully asking for the prayers and support of this fine man in
this time of grreat peril for him and his family. He was and is a forward
thinking judge who does not deserve what happened to him today. As a former
family court judge myself, I was all too aware of how volative divorce cases
can be and how unbalanced some of the litigants are for various reasons.
Updates are being broadcast regulary on Fox News and presumably the other
national news networks as well. Please pray for Judge Weller.
Bob Lueck
ROBERT W. LUECK, ESQ
Attorney at Law
528 S. Casino Center Blvd. #311
Las Vegas, Nevada 89101
Phone 702-385-7385
Fax 702-385-3225
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