Rumpole’s Advice for the Ages: “Never Plead Guilty!”

True, in his fictional time and place, poor Rumpole was little appreciated, except by members of the Timson family, a large and industrious clan of petty criminals who, for all their human shortcomings, recognized effective courtroom advocacy. Most of the barristers at the Bailey, with the exception of a few of Rumpole’s prodigies, demonstrated an astounding absence of energy and devotion to their clients’ cause. This is a arresting idea to ponder, if you happen to be a client. When the trial is about to begin, how do you find out whether you have the dogged and resourceful Horace Rumpole or the hapless and unimaginative Claude Erskine Brown on your brief? There are several ways to obtain the answer to this vital question. The Timsons were informed by the best method, experience.

Links to the Past, and Last Week

While browsing the web, I discovered a few article I wrote years ago popping up. Among them was a pretty interesting 1990 article on sexual harassment in Management Review, the magazine of the American Management Association.

Interesting Links

Posted by Cliff Tuttle Technology savvy thieves can clean you out very quickly. Click here. Pittsburgh-based K&L Gates is growing and posting gains for 2008. But how much is due to frugality in bathroom supplies? Click here. “The parties are advised to chill” and other interesting judicial utterances. Click here. Are rip-off team fight songs […]

Back Talk Requested: Guantanamo — Rhymes with Geronimo.

So, why not (as Conressman Murtha suggests) support the local economy by inviting a few long term guests to inhabit our region? If one of them did escape, it is pretty likely he would had for the border — not stick around to commit acts of terrorism. So what’s the big deal? What am I missing here? Back Talk Requested.

Check out Gadgeteer on the Blogroll

Posted by Cliff Tuttle No, Gadgeteer has nothing to do with Pittsburgh or Legal. But it is a great site worth visiting. The well-written and profusely illustrated reviews will put you on to gadgetry you would never know existed and steer you away from buying some products that are not quite ready for market. Especially […]

Redo Redux

Posted by Cliff Tuttle So, is 44 the first President of the United States to retake the oath of office? For the Answer, look in the comments, below.

Assessment Appeals — Its time Again!

If you purchased a piece of property last year for an amount less than the fair market value listed in the assessment, you ought to be thinking about filing an assessment appeal. Or if you believe that the fair market value of the property you already own is less than the assessment, consider it also.

One Person . . . One of a Kind . . . a Force.

April Charney specializes in the rare legal field of mortgage foreclosure defense. Mortgage foreclosure has long been considered an area of the law where there is no defense. The law in this field has been summarized to millions of new borrowers by millions of mortgage loan closers in four words: “You pay, you stay!” But never underestimate an ingenious lawyer and Ms. Charney is one.

She has been a driving force in the development of various defenses that have, at least for the present, been giving fits to lawyers for the mortgage securitization industry. Lawyers, judges, regulators and finally legislators are starting to see old issues in a new light. Through seminars, consumer organizations and the internet, Ms Charney has shared these emerging ideas with other lawyers around the country.

Mortgage Foreclosure: New Cover Sheet in Allegheny County

Posted by Cliff Tuttle Under the new Pilot Project of the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, mortgage foreclosure complaints are required to use a new cover sheet that contains additional information. Click here to see a copy. The sheet contains check boxes which enable the Court personnel to identify an owner-occupied one to […]

LandAmerica 1031 Pingbacks v. the Zombie Bots.

Posted by Cliff Tuttle As PLBT readers know, I don’t fancy robotic comments. But I will consider “pingbacks” from websites relevent to the themes of this blog. A pingback occurs when a website reposts your work and sends an electronic calling card to let you know, containing its url. A number of these pingbacks have […]

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Welcome

CLIFF TUTTLE has been a Pennsylvania lawyer for over 45 years and (inter alia) is a real estate litigator and legal writer. The posts in this blog are intended to provide general information about legal topics of interest to lawyers and consumers with a Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania focus. However, this information does not constitute legal advice and there is no lawyer-client relationship created when you read this blog. You are encouraged to leave comments but be aware that posted comments can be read by others. If you wish to contact me in privacy, please use the Contact Form located immediately below this message. I will reply promptly and in strict confidence.

Pittsburgh Legal Back Talk

Legal topics of interest to lawyers and consumers with a Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania focus.

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