Michelle J Douglass

Michelle Douglass

I am more than open to discuss with anyone the circumstances surrounding the above comments. It is a sad day for anyone who loses a trial especially so after more than 5 weeks before a jury in court. In nearly 30 years, this is the only negative comment received by a client. It is not warranted, however, I am now forced to respond in a public forum to set out the actual circumstances that do not bode well for the writer. My response to the woman who wrote the comment is as follows: Your case was lost in Court after 5.5 weeks of trial. Your post-verdict negative comments contradict your pre-verdict comments to me and the Judge. You told him, on the record, that even tho you lost, you were pleased my legal representation (I and my dedicated staff provided you round the clock attention); and you also told the Judge that you thought the system was fair. You stated to me and many others that you were thrilled with my Closing Argument and that my cross examination of the many defense witnesses was outstanding. You told me, in front of witnesses, that I was very kind and fair. The problems arose from your own conduct. You were highly medicated during the trial and your direct testimony and cross examination testimony was, unfortunately, very poor. You showed up late to trial almost every day to the point that defense counsel and the Judge made comments and made a record of it. You were fired from your job for lateness and attendance issues. You were combative and argumentative throughout the trial. I tried to assist you in managing your anger control issues. I addressed this with you and in response, you stated that I was rude and abusive. I protected you throughout the litigation and trial. You were fired from another job after being fired from the job for which I represented you and brought another race discrimination claim against your subsequent employer (without my knowledge and consent). I advised you that the jury would probably not view this well. You had also brought an EEOC race complaint against your former employer, and again, as to another prior employer, you settled a harassment claim. You were not honest and forthright with me or my staff about the prior and subsequent EEOC filings and lawsuits and I told you so in a straightforward manner. You did not like me telling you that your many EEOC filings and lawsuits would have a negative impact on the case for which I was representing you. You were the subject of eviction proceedings from your landlord during this trial and I personally paid your rent and intervened so that you would not be evicted; I provided you with money to buy 4 new suits, shoes, for trial, I paid for your gasoline, tolls and food during the trial and paid to have you live in a motel near the courthouse for the entire trial. Your car was repossessed during trial and I again helped you by lending you our family vehicle and paid for all the gas and tolls. There was one postponement of the initial trial date by me after my mother suffered a serious health condition; thereafter, the Court rescheduled the matter for trial and I provided to you undivided attention, 18 hour days and weekends for the entire 5.5 weeks of trial. Your social security number was not displayed by me but by the defense and I countered by advising the court and the matter was resolved; I made numerous objections during trial at all appropriate times and have at all times acted with respect and candor. Unfortunately you have chosen to publicly air what is best characterized as sour grapes due to your own failings. I conducted a mock trial before the real trial for your benefit to help you correct some of your deficiencies, but it seems that you are at your best when blaming others. Not only did I study your case, prepare your case, we successfully defeated a motion by defense to dismiss your case, I made numerous motions to exclude damaging evidence to your case and much more. For this, you have not paid a dime.