Saturday, October 24, 2009

Limerick, Anyone?

I came across this article in the Newspaper a year or so ago, and it still remains one of my favorite articles for obvious reasons.
Enjoy.

Legalese Gets Too Long

TACOMA, Wash.- A
federal judge in Tacoma has
told a lawyer he needs to
make it snappy.
Judge Ronald Leighton
balked at a 465-page lawsuit
that made its way onto his
desk. He invoked a rarely
used rule that requires a
"short and plain statement"
of allegations.
The title of the
racketeering lawsuit filed
by attorney Dean
Browning Webb was eight
pages long.
The judge issued his order
in a limerick:
"Plaintiff has a great deal
to say,
But it seems he skipped
Rule 8(a).
His Complaint is too long,
Which renders it wrong,
Please rewrite and refile
today."

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