Before my client actually shows up. Trigger warning for talking about a neglectful mother and a fair amount of name calling and cursing. But it's not about anyone on the site, so it should be okay to vent, right?



I'm writing an appellate brief in a termination of parental rights case. My client was supposed to come in first thing Friday and sign the brief because in our state, all documents in an appeal in a termination case must be signed by the person terminated. The courts got sick of the parents who SAY they want to appeal, but really are horrible parents, and then they just drop off the earth during the appeal process and we do the whole process for nothing.

Long intro to say that I have worked my butt on this brief because this mother really wasn't THAT bad. She was somewhat neglectful, but there was a bond there with the kid and the kid really wants to come home and a psychologist testified that this woman ISN'T unfit and she loves her kids. [She has a BUNCH of kids, but one child has a grandmother who was willing to come in and file a private child in need of care action to take custody away from the mother.] So, I work long hours, I set up multiple appointments for this woman to come in and sign the brief, including on the weekend, and she never shows and never calls.

So I called my client AGAIN this morning and she said she might come at 1:00 this afternoon. I told her that I was not accepting the blame for the delay AGAIN (I took responsibility for the delay in filing the docketing statement after she blew me off for seven weeks), and I was going to have a motion to file the brief out of time, and the reason for the delay was going to be listed as her failure to come and sign the ****ing thing. Suddenly, after having NO possible way to get to my office, she will be here in half an hour. Cursing isn't even adequate to express my anger and frustration and rage and sadness for this little boy with this stupid ****ing ***** of a mother who cannot roll her fat *** out of bed with her boyfriend long enough to drive to my office and sign this ****ing brief.

Just needed to vent my absolute rage. WHY, if you do not care enough about your kid to even sign a ****ing document to appeal the termination of your rights, would you bother to appeal? Oh, her answer to that? "NO BODY TAKES WHAT'S MINES." THAT IS HER REASON FOR APPEALING!!!

Fingers crossed I don't punch this woman in the face when she shows up in my office.

[pbutton]

Holy crap. I think I am actually speechless. I hate this lady too.

to you.

[stopdog]

Don't punch the client. It won't change her at all.
Sorry she is doing this to you. I had to quit representing anyone who hurt an animal because I hated them so much.

[SallyBrown]

Wow. No words. And no advice either, because I'd be just as likely to punch her as you are. ****ing unreal.

[WikidPissah]

Originally Posted by My kids are cool

B "NO BODY TAKES WHAT'S MINES."

I will not kick her skull in, ommmmmm, I will not kick her skull in ommmmmmm.

[stopdog]

Did the client ever show up?
Did you refrain from punching her? (which would only hurt your hand - not her thick head)

I did not punch her or kick her. My H was there to notarize her signature, and he said I was not even harsh with her; I maintained my professionalism.

I did insist she read the whole document. If I had to waste huge amounts of my time drafting it, the least she was going to do was read it. She tried to whine to me about how unfair the whole thing was, and how the grandma who 'took' her child won't give her visitation blah blah (there's still a visitation order in place). She was complaining that the guardian would not bring the child TO HER.

I asked her how many times she had called the guardian about her visitation (one). I asked her how many times she had called her appointed attorney, either me or the person who represents her at the district court level, about the visitation (none). I asked her how many times she had called the CASA volunteer about it (none). The court? None. Letters she had written? None. So I said now that the summer is almost over and the time for your visitation is past, NOW you are discussing this with me when I'm only appointed to represent you on appeal? She just looked at me. I told if she was actually interested in seeing her son, she was going to have to show a LOT more initiative than that. I told her I was taking no action on the visitation because I wasn't appointed to represent her on that. And then I said I was leaving to get the brief to the printers and I did.

So. At least the worst is over. I don't have to actually deal with her face to face again.

[stopdog]

I knew you would handle it professionally but am glad it is out of the way for you and you don't have to see her in person again.

[geez]

Originally Posted by My kids are cool

I did not punch her or kick her. My H was there to notarize her signature, and he said I was not even harsh with her; I maintained my professionalism.

I did insist she read the whole document. If I had to waste huge amounts of my time drafting it, the least she was going to do was read it. She tried to whine to me about how unfair the whole thing was, and how the grandma who 'took' her child won't give her visitation blah blah (there's still a visitation order in place). She was complaining that the guardian would not bring the child TO HER.

I asked her how many times she had called the guardian about her visitation (one). I asked her how many times she had called her appointed attorney, either me or the person who represents her at the district court level, about the visitation (none). I asked her how many times she had called the CASA volunteer about it (none). The court? None. Letters she had written? None. So I said now that the summer is almost over and the time for your visitation is past, NOW you are discussing this with me when I'm only appointed to represent you on appeal? She just looked at me. I told if she was actually interested in seeing her son, she was going to have to show a LOT more initiative than that. I told her I was taking no action on the visitation because I wasn't appointed to represent her on that. And then I said I was leaving to get the brief to the printers and I did.

So. At least the worst is over. I don't have to actually deal with her face to face again.

She is such the victim! Boo HOO!!! If you had to threaten her to get her a55 to your office to sign the papers she clearly won't be interested in making an effort to see her child. So sad

[Crescent Moon]

MKAC -

God bess the grandma is all I can say. ....and I wonder how long it will be befor the kid ends up on this forum, working thru his issues with having never been loved by his *mother*?

Good job handling it well. I hate your client.