A Full Plate, Sort Of

This week is much better than last, busywise. But it seems that I have the magic touch of killing litigation. Originally on my plate this week were two motions to dismiss, one motion to publish, one motion for continuance of a trial, and two sets of responses to interrogatories. To experienced litigators, this probably seems like nothing much. But at this point in my career, this feels like A LOT OF WORK!

Before yesterday, I hadn't even HEARD of a motion to publish. Apparently if a court doesn't decide to publish an opinion on its own, you can make a motion requesting the court to do so. You just need a good argument citing how the opinion is important to the public or how it clarifies new or established law. Cool huh? Me likey.

So yesterday I drafted my first motion to dismiss. This one was based on the running of the Statute of Limitations. Easy enough right? Well, 3/4 of the way through my draft, I was told by the associate to STOP. Apparently, opposing counsel decided to voluntarily withdraw. There goes all my work. Oh well.

Then I was just about to start on my second motion to dismiss when I decided to ask the partner on the case a clarifying question. Good thing I did because when I stopped by to talk to the partner, he told me to hold my work on the motion because there was a small chance opposing counsel would also voluntarily withdraw their claim. WHAT? RRG. What are the odds? This was so frustrating to me because (1) I need to bill hours and (2) I love writing motions! Really! I was so anxious to roll up my sleeves and dive right into these motions.

Oh, but I just got assigned to a Ca-Razy construction defect case, so I might be super busy even after all this.