Happy Thanksgiving!!
Chancery Courts, Covid and YOu.
The Capital Area Bar Association (CABA) recently held it’s second in a series of offerings featuring local Judges in the area discussing the Court’s efforts to adapt to continuing with Court in this Covid-era.
Featured were Chancellors Owens, Grove and Roberts. Yours truly was the moderator for the panel. Some 40-odd attorneys were in attendance for this Zoom conference.
The Judge’s comments were similar with the challenges presented by Covid; some court delay with cases involving multiple litigants/attorneys, technical difficulties, and a little too-lax formality when Zooming.
The pro’s were commented on as well; more economical for parties, more efficient for the Court in certain cases, and allowed for out of town, out of state parties/witness to be accommodated with Zoom hearings.
The consensus is Covid and Zoom are both going to be here for a while so attorneys need to adapt. Additionally, some level of Zoom is here to stay and that will make Court and attorney’s more efficient for clients in the future.
If you are interested in learning more about CABA click.
Matthew Thompson is a civil litigation attorney in MS and managing in a Covid-crazed world.
Don’t Make Promises for Other People
We have the best of intentions…
It’s satisfying to help someone, but sometimes we are not in a position to help. It’s always nice to be able to provide the right answer, but sometimes we do not know the right answer. We may even know the person that would know the answer. However, the best course of action is suggesting they contact that person directly.
Likewise, parents should not promise the child what the other parent will do. Life happens. It may end up being something that the other parent cannot do. It may be an obligation that is impossible for them to meet. Promising your child that the other parent will do something is setting both the child and the other parent up for failure.
Don’t make promises for someone else to keep.
Matthew Thompson is a Mississippi civil trial lawyer and doesn’t make promises for other people.
Thompson Law Firm, pllc (601)850-8000
Happy Father’s Day!
Leadership: MS Style…
lead·er·ship
noun
-
the action of leading a group of people or an organization.
Mississippi is in the headlines again. This time due to MS being the last state in the country that has the Confederate battle flag in its state flag.
There is a growing push to change the flag to something that is more representative of MS today, as opposed to the late 1800s.
As usual, there are loud voices pro and con for any change.
However, there are meek voices in between. Our most prominent elected officials are not stating their view, but instead are saying let the people vote. This is not leadership.
We the people elected these persons as our representatives. Their job is to represent the will of the people and do what is best for MS.
While I am supportive of a change in the flag, I understand that others are not, however the task for elected officials is to do and promote what is best for all of Mississippi.
I have yet to have any answer to the question on “why keeping the current flag is best for MS?”
I’ve heard heritage vs. hate arguments. I’ve heard we already voted arguments. I’ve heard the slippery slope arguments of what’s next if it is changed, but what is deafening is any cogent, reasonable reason to maintain the current, indisputably divisive flag.
Leadership is the action of leading. It is time for our Leaders to have an opinion, back it up and do what they believe is best for all of Mississippi. Take a stand.
Matthew Thompson is a civil lawyer in Mississippi and expects elected officials to lead.
MS Bar Convention Cancelled
For the first time in 15 years I will not be attending the annual Mississippi Lawyer’s meeting in San Destin, FL.
https://www.msbar.org/news/bar-convention-in-florida-canceled/
This convention is one of the highlights of lawyering. It’s a week of seeing your judges not in their robes and with their hair down, so to speak.
It’s an opportunity to see lawyers from all over the state in a friendly atmosphere that sometimes the Courtroom does not provide.
The Bar Convention allows attorneys to earn their annual CLE requirements, meet new lawyers, judges and their families, and to unwind.
A virtual Bar will takes its place. I will attend; COVID-19 be damned.
Matthew Thompson is a civil litigation attorney in Mississippi and can answer your questions at (691)850-8000.
Quote of the Day: Covid-19 & Homeschooling.
“I’d rather have him watch classic Godzilla movies and play in the yard and pretend to be a Jedi rather than figure out basic math.”
A Boston, MA parent is tired of homeschooling his kindergartener.
“Amid the barrage of learning apps, video meet-ups and e-mailed assignments that pass as pandemic home school, some frustrated and exhausted parents are choosing to disconnect entirely for the rest of the academic year.“Id.
Respect and admiration for teachers are growing as the pandemic-forced school closures continue.
As a parent, your job is to do what is best for your child, even during a pandemic.
Matthew Thompson is a child custody lawyer and enjoys his share of Godzilla and Jedi movies, but reminds parents that rearing your child continues to be a top priority.
Somebody can always do it cheaper…is that better?
Cheaper is NOT always better. 
Everyone wants a good deal, myself included. However, often in life you get what you pay for!
We’ve all seen the advertisement for the $500 divorce. That could be a really good deal if everything is agreed, it’s just drafting papers and sending for entry.
But, is it a good deal when it doesn’t work? Is it a good deal when it does work, but you weren’t advised of your rights. You did not know about all of the financial and equitable relief you could have gotten.
I’ve seen agreements where the parties agreed to maintain a million dollar whole life insurance policies. They had no idea what that meant or what expense that really involved.
I’ve seen agreements that have not included the correct child support and included terms so onerous a Court would never order it otherwise.
My advice is this, if you spent more than $500 to get married, plan on spending more than $500 to get divorced.
Matthew Thompson is a civil litigation attorney in Mississippi.
(601) 850-8000 - - BowTieLawyer.MS 