Thou Doth Protest Too Much

I find myself more than skeptical of the Rocket's recent protests that he has been ridden roughshod over by the Mitchell Report. When the Sox released Roger, he had worn out his welcome in Boston, winning only 11 games in his last season at the Fens, and thought by most to be in the twilight of his career. He was portly, out of shape, and sporting a delivery worth of a Junior Varsity player. Only after landing in Toronto did he return to the mound sporting a physique not seen since his high school days playing Texas ball, and hurling 97 mph fastballs on his way to Hall of Fame status. A trend that continued while in pinstripes. To believe Roger, it is merely coincidence.

At least Andy Pettitte had the balls to come clean.

Cleanliness is Next to Godliness

I represent a fair number of landlords in Hartford County and a recurring problem I hear is that the tenants fail to maintain the apartment in a clean and habitable condition. The high degree of squalor that my clients recount to me frequently comes to light only on the post move out inspection. Keep in mind this pointed reminder from our friends at the Landlord Protection Agency when interviewing a propsective tenant. A well placed call to a previous landlord goes a long ways towards heading off problems later on.

One Less For the Road, Lido...

In her Fall newsletter, the presiding Judge of Hartford's Community Court leaves no doubt as to her views on underage drinking: "it's a crime."

As we head in to the last few weeks of the holiday season in earnest, many temptations will arise to let your kids have a drink under certain social situations. Or worse, to turn a blind eye as they head out with a car load of friends for a night that you know in your heart of hearts will involve drinking.

In any given week I receive one or two calls from a parent whose child has been charged with DWI, or has been involved in an alcohol related accident. Sadly, the news that I have to deliver to the parent is often not encouraging. Connecticut looks quite seriously on alcohol related offenses involving minor children, and while there are legal strategies that can be employed to soften the blow, a DWI charge is rarely nolled these days.

Please do yourself and your child a favor. Tell them not to drink and drive this holiday season. Remind them not to get in a car with someone who has been drinking. Be a nag. Be a nudge. Be all those things you have to be and let them know you care.

Take Your Court To School Day

If the thought of your child becoming a lawyer doesn't send chills down your spine, then you may agree with me that this is actually a pretty good idea.

Wii Wii Monsieur

Here it is, December 15th and I now hold in my hot little hands the Nintendo Wii, a device I swore I would never own. I was worn down, I tell ya. Worn down.

I was worn down by my three kids, all of who listed this ubiquitous piece of white plastic as item number one on their Christmas lists to Santa. Worn down by my neighbors who by will power or dumb luck had all managed to land one of these coveted pieces long before today. Worn down by last week' s cry of, "every one of my friends got a Wii for Channukah."

But I got one. And I have to tip my hat to the nice folks at Toys R Us in Corbin's corner. For weeks, I have been stalking this thing. Trying to go the non-chalant route, sauntering in and up to the counter. Asking, in my most laid back manner, "you dont have any wii consoles do you?", and nodding, in complete understanding when store clerk after store clerk would look at me with pity and shake their head, "no."

But then came Tuesday. On Tuesday, I made another non-chalant laid back visit to Toys R Us. "No," the girl said. "We dont have any. But (leaning into me, soto voce,) we are getting some Saturday night, after the store closes to go on sale Sunday morning. We don't know how many, but we will have some."

This little fact burned in my brain. A glimmer of hope.

The weather forcast for Sunday morning called for a Noreaster with a side of destruction. I sensed my chance. Only the halest and heartiest of the Wii Questors would venture into a maelstrom just to buy a videopgame. "I'm going to get up at 6 and venture into the maw of the storm I told my wife. If I succeed, so be it. If I don't, well then it wasn't meant to be."

Sunday dawned. As the alarm buzzed, a could hear the sleet pounding down onto the house. A good sign.

I ventured out into the dark. In 15 minutes I had made my was across town and was in line. The wind was howling and it was still dark. The thermometer I saw read 21 degrees. Folks sat huddled in a line outside, some in tents, some swathed in blankets. I was sort of surprised no one had broken the window of Pier One and used the display furniture for firewood.

The news was encouraging. The adjacent Best Buy had just distributed 80 tickets which left me a in a line with only 20 folks ahead of me. The guy in front of me jumped up and down, trying to keep warm in his dress loafers. He and I were Red Sox fans. the two guys beghind us wore Yankees hats. We all chatted amiably, in this one quest together. We all laughed at the guy who was in line to get one for his mother in law. Way above and beyon the call, we all said.

At 7:30, the store manager emerged and began passing out the tickets. He had one for me, and everyone in line behind me. We all made it. We were all able to leave our posts and run back to the cars to warm up while we waited for the doors to open at 8. I couldnt feel my hands but I was smiling nonetheless. I was getting my kids a Wii for Chirstmas. And for some reason, that was the only thing that mattered.

Lost: One good and honorable Man

Howard Belkin, a fairly recent appointee to the Connecticut Worker's Compensation Commission, lost his battle with stomach cancer this month and went on to that place where all of us lawyers eventually go. Commissioner Belkin was one of the funniest men I have ever met. He was never at a loss for a joke, delivered in his best Catskill lounge act style, always doing his best to put all of us who appeared before him at ease , as we argued the various pros and cons of our client's cause. But more importantly, Howard was an good and decent man. He was not flashy. He was not a show off. He never let the importance of his role in the arbitration of worker's comp claims go to his head. He was simply a great guy.

In the many months before his passing, when all of us who appeared in front of him new he was terminally ill, I would often go home and say to my wife, "I love Howard Belkin, and I am going to miss him when he's gone."

There is really nothing I can add. I am just so lucky to have gotten to know him these past few years. If you have ever had the honor of meeting Howard Belkin, then you know what I mean. If you haven't, you can only take my word for it. I loved Howard Belkin and I will miss him.