Category: Law

Settlement Conference: Act IV

SCENE I:  JUDGE’S CHAMBERS

Judge is seated behind desk in a crowd of lawyers. “Sweet Child of Mine” plays loudly from tinny computer speakers.  

ENTER LAWYER 1 AND 2, front and center.  They sit in the last two remaining unoccupied chairs.

JUDGE

[Loudly] Okay, everyone, quiet down.  Who is ready for a conference?

LAWYER 1

Your Honor, Lawyer 2 and I are here on #49 on your list.  This case was Judge Cartwright’s case, but it was just transferred to you.  My client suffered severe injuries when a refrigerator fell on her.  She’s currently in a wheelchair.

LAWYER 2

We have reached a tentative settlement, Your Honor; we are just waiting for approval from the insurer.  As such, we are respectfully asking for a six-week continuance in order to get the money on the table.

JUDGE

Is that true, Lawyer 1?

LAWYER 1

Yes, I concur.

JUDGE

That’s fine, I will schedule the next hearing for six weeks from now.

LAWYER 2

Would you like to hear the details of our proposed settlement?

JUDGE

[Feigns self-pleasure with hand motion and facial expression]

LAWYER 1

Haha.  Did you make it to the Steely Dan concert last night?

JUDGE

Yeah, they were incredible.  I’d definitely see them again.  Super hung over right now though.

[Steely Dan’s “Deacon Blues” begins to play through the computer speakers.]

LAWYER 1

I’m sorry I missed it!  Thanks Judge.

exeunt Lawyer 1 and Lawyer 2

Welcome!

Promotional picture of the band Fiction Fair
Everything looks better in black and white! (I'm in the middle)

Hello and welcome to little round mirrors.

My name is Matt, and I’m a law student and musician in the Philadelphia area.  I have thoughts and observations about both of these things, and I want to create a repository for these musings.  At first glance, there doesn’t seem to be much overlap between law and music (besides contracts, intellectual property and noise ordinances).  But both exist in community form; both have their own languages, written and oral; both are based upon rules, and some of the best of both involves the creative bending of those rules.  I hope to explore the interesting intersections and delve into the minutiae.  The result will hopefully be at least a little thought-provoking.  It will certainly be an interesting look at my development in both fields.

On the other hand, I will probably also write about both separately.  They’ve generally remained separate in my life (except for those lyrics I just wrote for a song based on the Trial Advocacy case Dixon v. Providential Life Insurance Co…) so I imagine that they will remain separate in this blog often too.  Well, too bad!

Thanks for coming, and I hope you subscribe and enjoy!