Posted on 06/17/2005 3:50:08 PM PDT by freepatriot32
LONDON (June 17) - An e-mail between a highly paid lawyer and a secretary over a tomato ketchup stain has become the talk of legal circles in London, leaving the sender distinctly red-faced.
British media reported with glee the tale of Richard Phillips, who e-mailed the secretary to ask her to pay a four-pound ($7.30) dry-cleaning bill after she accidentally spilled tomato ketchup on his trousers.
The secretary, who had just returned to work after her mother died, was so irate she forwarded the e-mail to several colleagues at the firm of Baker & McKenzie, who in turn passed it on to others.
The e-mails quickly appeared on the Internet and in the press.
"Dear Jenny," the lawyer wrote, "I went to the dry-cleaners at lunch and they said it would cost four pounds to remove the ketchup stains. If you could let me have the cash today that would be much appreciated."
Secretary Jenny Amner replied: "With reference to the email, I must apologize for not getting back to you straight away but due to my mother's sudden illness, death and funeral I have had more pressing issues than your four pounds.
"Obviously your financial need as a senior associate is greater than mine as a mere secretary."
Colleagues had offered to hold a collection to cover the bill but Amner paid it herself.
The law firm was not impressed.
"I can confirm we are aware of the incident," a spokeswoman said. "This is a private matter between two members of staff that clearly got out of hand. We are investigating."
Newspapers also printed several e-mails sent to Phillips in response. One investment banker said he was deeply saddened to hear about the ketchup stain tragedy while another suggested he emigrate.
Wow.
I guess lawyers are the same all over the world.
Who knew?
[Freepmail me to get on or off this Not-A-Ping-List.]
Men didn't.
We're talking pansies here, and Brittain's supply overran demand several years ago.
lol
Let's not get too sans-culottes here. You could find a jerk like this working as the assistant night-shift manager at your local Burger King.
If course, it gets ever more distasteful as the salary rises.
-ccm
Your experience and analysis is 100% accurate. The smaller firms and solo practitioners are the only places where you may find decent folks who practice law. Every large firm is mostly filled with the despicable buttwipes that you experienced.
Well, I'd personally put real estate agents right up at the top of my most-disliked list, and many doctors, but your dissertation on big firms is right on target.
Many associates fail to realize that achieving their goal of making partner depends mostly on how other people perceive them, and how much business they can attract, rather than how they actually perform on a won-loss basis.
This guy clearly was out of touch with the most important factors for his advancement, and he'll serve as a lesson to others. But don't think for a minute that this sort of narcissistic behavior is more prevalent in law firm practice than other professions.
A few years ago I accidentally spilled wine on a guy's shirt. I apologized.
He later asked me to replace the shirt because the stain did not come out when the shirt was cleaned.
I immediately paid him and repeated my apology. He made more money than I did, but so what? I was the one responsible for ruining his shirt.
A much as lawyers for the most part are blood sucking socialists, this lawyer should have sucked the ketchup stain out with his mouth.
"Each according to his needs..." seems to be the motto of this thread.
Wasn't Bill Clinton a lawyer at one time?
I bet he regrets not offering to pay for the poor intern to have her blue dress dry cleaned at the time because if he had he might still be one.
Great comment.
In my experience in the corporate world in-house attorneys were (with one exception) okay people. My explanation is that the CEOs were usually not lawyers and the lawyers had to work with other powerful executives (including me) who were also not lawyers but were competent and smart.
Baker and McK had a nasty reputation.
Baker&McKensie, HQ'd in Chicago, is the world's biggest law firm.
Emigrate! I hope that doesn't mean to the US!
>"Each according to his needs..." seems to be the motto of this thread.
Exactly. Come the revolution...
thanks for not pinging me.
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