e-Discovery Insights

Rants & Raves! Recruiters: Keyword Search 1st, Document Review 2nd!!!

Coming to you from the 'cutting my own throat' department today...

Recruiters, you've proven that you're deft at performing keyword search for the word "eDiscovery".  Now, how about giving all of us techies and attorneys a break and actually doing some document review.  What do I mean?

READ THE DAMN RESUME!!!

For the (I kid you not) fourth time in a week, I've been appproached by a different recuiter for the same IT eDiscovery desktop support position.  One of them apparently continues to forget that he already contacted me - and received a polite response - and has contacted me two more times.  Never mind that the last time I did any type of direct desktop support was for Hughes Space & Communications in 1993, but my resume has a title.  It says "eDiscovery Attorney and Consultant".

Oh, the irony...

I have nothing against recruiters.  I've gotten lots of excellent work through many of them, and I'm certain I will in the future.  However, when they do these searches, then send an email blast to everyone with the term "eDiscovery" in their resume, they're telling us that we're meaningless to them - and they don't mind wasting our time.  Why?  Because, many of them also call, so I will always either return the call or email them back.  I will never ignore an inquiry from a recruiter because its unprofessional and just plain rude.  However, it doesn't exactly entice me to want to work with them.

You think I'm being too hard on them?  At least recruiter number one was honest about the position.  The others apparently could already tell it probably wasn't an appropriate position, so they attempted to 'dress it up' by changing it to desktop analyst and desktop engineer.  Shame on you!

There.  I said it.  I feel much better.  Now, where are those band-aids?!?!

Rants & Raves: Been Caught Stealing (or Perhaps Not)

Samsung spies on its own customers.  The software is called StarLogger. I'd say it's more like the chorus from the Rolling Stones' song Star Star.

UPDATE 03/31/11: This may be a false alarm.  Strangely, Samsung reps admitted that keylogging software had been installed.  The saga continues...

e-Discovery California: Burn Notice

This email hoax warns of the risk of radiation burns to Southern California residents due to the nuclear crisis in Japan.

Talk about mean-spirited...

"All I'm Guilty of is Bad Taste."

Really??? Really!!! So, you're a nursing student and you think it's a great idea to pose with a placenta, then post the photo on Facebook?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40874448/ns/health/

Then, when they - shockingly - kick you out of nursing school, you sue?

Consequences. It's about consequences. That quote in the title? Larry Flynt (of Hustler fame) said it. Turns out, he was right, but he sat in jail and spent a fortune before eventually proving it.

He had the resources to fight. You don't. Maybe the students are re-instated and maybe not. But why put yourself in that position in the first place?

I'm going to invent a new software warning message. Instead of the usual, "Are you sure you wish to continue?" button, mine will inquire, "Are you sure it's appropriate to continue?".

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Not Again!!! Copycat #2!!!

I'm not sure if this means I'm becoming more successful, people simply don't check or they're trying to piggyback on my over two years of hard-fought SEO optimization, but for the second time, I've picked up a copycat.  On December 1st, 2010, AccessData registered the domain ediscoveryinsight.com and on December 8th, 2010 announced the launch of their blog under the name "eDiscovery Insight".

Hey, there's room for all of us, but please, removing a '-' and an 's' doesn't eliminate infringement when you're using it for an identical purpose!

I've pointed everyone to you and wish you luck, but I hope you'll do the gracious thing and change your blog's name, as the folks from Catalyst did.

I must get one of these nifty banners...

e-Discovery 101: Well, my kilt will fly up, but I'll try.

Mel Gibson. 

Telephone recordings.  Abusive language.  Racist slurs. Threats to commit murder.  Folks at home, you're no different than Mel.  Anything you say or do may end up as an electronic record - and part of a civil or criminal proceeding.

Hey, I never promised you a rose garden...

e-Discovery LOL: A Narcissistic, Maniacal, Mental Case

I know what you're thinking.  Perry finally admits the truth.  I will only say this in my defense; in my line of work, those are all excellent qualities!

Maybe I'll be in a little trouble for making light of a serious issue, but it's the start of 4th of July weekend and we could all use a laugh.

No, the title doesn't describe me (unless you speak to some of the people I've worked with over the years), it's what an attorney said to a judge; resulting in sanctions.

You know that old adage; when upset, count to ten before you act.  Now, the attorney might as well count to six - that's the number of months of suspension he received.

Don't be Fooled by Imitations!

From an announcement circulating on the 'net today:

"Three months ago, we welcomed you to the debut of this blog. Today, we are stepping it up a notch. We are giving this formerly nameless blog a name, “E-Discovery Insights,” adding new profiles of the authors, committing ourselves to post more frequently, and renewing our commitment to use this blog as a vehicle to share the insights and expertise of Catalyst’s professionals on a range of e-discovery topics."

 

Yo, Catalyst!  Nobody thought of Googling 'e-Discovery Insights' or typing "www.ediscoveryinsights.com" into a browser window?

All kidding aside, good luck with your blog - and whatever new name you assign to it...

e-Discovery 101: A Three-Hour Boor

Jurors were texting, making cell phone calls and discussing the case with a bailiff during deliberations; and if that wasn't enough, a prosecutor posted a poem on Facebook with details about the case which was intended to be sung to the theme song from Gilligan's Island.

Some of these shenanigans resulted in a mistrial.

This is a criminal trial, folks.  Somebody's liberty is at stake!  I'm by no means a bleeding-heart (after all, I clerked at the L.A. District Attorney's Office during law school), but place yourself in the position of the defendant.  This isn't a trial - it's a three-ring circus!

It also begs the question; who lost control of this situation?

Facebook Faux Pas: "Drunk (and Stupid) in Florida"

At this point, I'm about ready to throw in the towel and start a "Social Networking Idiot of the Month" post.  I try not to get into the habit of using strong verbiage like this too often, but really...

A drunk-driving 17-year-old was involved in a vehicle crash that killed her 20-year-old passenger.

Quoting directly from the The Buffalo News article:

"The Buffalo News has learned that Sullivan went to Florida a month after the crash and posted a photo on her Facebook Web page captioned, "Drunk in Florida."" (italics/bold added).

The judge found this conduct troubling, sentenced her to six months in jail and stated that posting the Facebook photo was the reason.

No further comment is necessary, especially since it would contain more strong verbiage...

[As much as I don't like to overuse 'dark humor' for something as egregious as this case, nevertheless, I have to pose the question:  How many of you clued-in to my 'half-a-brain' illustration?]