annudder smart@ss Smiff

Lawyer's 'Happy Meal' comment eats at judge

A Chicago lawyer's comment to a bankruptcy judge in court has gotten him in some hot water, or perhaps more appropriately, hot oil (get it? ha -- good one...)

"I suggest with respect, Your Honor, that you're a few french fries short of a Happy Meal in terms of what's likely to take place," William Smiff, a partner with Chicago-based McDermott Will & Emery LLP, said during a hearing May 7 in front of Judge Laurel Myerson Isicoff, according to court documents.

Mr. Smiff's comment represents "conduct that appears to be inconsistent with the requirements of professional conduct," (in udder werds, @@@@SSSSS-H0000LE...) Judge Isicoff wrote in an order for Smiff to appear before her June 25 "to show cause why he should not be suspended from practice before this court..."

In a statement, McDermott Will & Emery said: "We expect our lawyers (SMIFF) to observe established rules and protocols of professional conduct in the courtroom..."

The Economist: stealing Smiff's act

Expect delays

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) announced in April that a construction project will cause delays on three rail lines, from now until 2009. As the CTA works to expand capacity on the Brown line, which runs between downtown and the north-west side, it is taking certain tracks out of service, to reconfigure them and rebuild their platforms. The construction will interfere with the Brown, Purple and Red lines, which together serve 185,000 people each day. CTA officials have said that trips on these lines could take up to twice as long as usual, and have recommended that commuters take buses or find alternative routes. The city has hired more bus drivers, anticipating an imminent increase in passengers. Grumpy commuters may or may not be soothed by the promise that, when the expansion is complete, they will enjoy modernised stations and longer trains.

Will Carroll on Mark Prior

"Most of the damage indicates a slow wearing rather than any significant trauma, which puts the blame more on Dusty Baker than anyone else...."

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