"Your self-serving comments are putting me to sleep.
"There are people out there who work hard every day — like teachers, coaches, policemen and firemen — and who make a difference in peoples' lives every day. They live on a meager existence. Then, there are people like you who seem to thrive on creating havoc. People like you have no intention of making the world a better place to be. Their only interest is in making lots of money for themselves.
"Please spare me your phony sermons. I do not want any more of your self-serving letters; save the paper.”
"Can you not say anything in a page or less? Who are you? You're just a broker who refers difficult cases to experienced lawyers. You're a witness in this case. Be like a potted plant and sit quietly in the corner.”
Article hasn't been published yet
Pignato has not submitted his article for the bar journal yet, but it could appear in December's issue.
An ongoing dispute between an injured skateboarder and his insurance company got so contentious that a federal judge had to scold one lawyer for unprofessional conduct.
Oklahoma City attorney Gerard Pignato has been ordered to write an article on civility and professionalism for the Oklahoma Bar Journal after telling another attorney to "be like a potted plant and sit quietly in the corner.”
That order came last month after attorneys for the injured skateboarder complained about Pignato's "offensive and unprofessional personal attacks.”
Attorneys David Bernstein and Joseph Acquaviva said, in court papers, they tried to address those attacks with Pignato before turning to U.S. District Judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange for help.
They asked the judge to halt the attacks, prompting the April 14 rebuke of Pignato.
Pignato, who apologized in court papers, declined to comment on the order, as did Bernstein and Acquaviva.
Dan Murdock, general counsel of the Oklahoma Bar Association, said it is not unusual for attorneys to file grievance against other lawyers. He said the rules of professional conduct for lawyers require them to report misconduct by other lawyers that raises questions about their honesty or fitness to practice law.
Pignato's article is supposed to be aimed at young lawyers, according to the judge's order.
Law students at the University of Oklahoma are taught to treat each other with respect, Dean Andy Coats said. They must pass a test on ethics and professionalism before they can work as legal interns.
Coats applauded the ruling by
