When We All Agree
If you read this blog and other legal blogs with any regularity, you have probably figured out that I'm often in the minority on a lot of issues when it comes to agreeing with my friends Cynthia Henley, Paul Kennedy, and Mark Bennett.
But today, I think the four of us are all in agreement in condemning the behavior of Andy Nolen, a local defense attorney in Harris County, Texas. Based on the research of Cynthia, Paul and Marky Mark, it appears that Andy has been creating a false "profile" on the internet to go about blasting other defense attorneys while praising himself. The trick he was pulling is pretty simple -- rate all these other attorneys with the lowest possible rating while giving himself stellar marks. It's about as grade school and immature of a stunt as one can pull.
It's unbecoming of freshman in high school, let alone an attorney with several years under his belt.
Let me just say this -- out of the four of us (me, Mark, Cynthia, and Paul), I'm the only one who was ever a prosecutor. I'm not saying that to brag. I'm saying to point out that I faced some very formidable opponents in my time. I never dealt with Paul on a professional basis, but I did deal with both Mark and Cynthia. I also dealt with the vast majority of the other attorneys that Andy Nolen decided to anonymously bash -- Wayne Hill, Dan Gerson, Joe Salhab, and Dane Johnson to name a few.
All of them are excellent attorneys who do honor to the Harris County Criminal Justice System.
I also dealt with Andy Nolen. His contribution to the reputation of the Defense Bar never held a candle to any of those he dared to insult.
I have said it before and I will say it again -- I believe Harris County to be home to some of the greatest prosecutors and defense attorneys in the history of Criminal Justice. It's an honor to walk amongst the Giants of Litigation that I've worked with for ten years now.
Andy isn't one of them.
And his actions have diminished the reputations of not just the attorneys he maligned with his fake reviews -- it diminishes us all.
He should be ashamed of himself.
But knowing him and the way he acts, he's probably too foolish to realize it.
But today, I think the four of us are all in agreement in condemning the behavior of Andy Nolen, a local defense attorney in Harris County, Texas. Based on the research of Cynthia, Paul and Marky Mark, it appears that Andy has been creating a false "profile" on the internet to go about blasting other defense attorneys while praising himself. The trick he was pulling is pretty simple -- rate all these other attorneys with the lowest possible rating while giving himself stellar marks. It's about as grade school and immature of a stunt as one can pull.
It's unbecoming of freshman in high school, let alone an attorney with several years under his belt.
Let me just say this -- out of the four of us (me, Mark, Cynthia, and Paul), I'm the only one who was ever a prosecutor. I'm not saying that to brag. I'm saying to point out that I faced some very formidable opponents in my time. I never dealt with Paul on a professional basis, but I did deal with both Mark and Cynthia. I also dealt with the vast majority of the other attorneys that Andy Nolen decided to anonymously bash -- Wayne Hill, Dan Gerson, Joe Salhab, and Dane Johnson to name a few.
All of them are excellent attorneys who do honor to the Harris County Criminal Justice System.
I also dealt with Andy Nolen. His contribution to the reputation of the Defense Bar never held a candle to any of those he dared to insult.
I have said it before and I will say it again -- I believe Harris County to be home to some of the greatest prosecutors and defense attorneys in the history of Criminal Justice. It's an honor to walk amongst the Giants of Litigation that I've worked with for ten years now.
Andy isn't one of them.
And his actions have diminished the reputations of not just the attorneys he maligned with his fake reviews -- it diminishes us all.
He should be ashamed of himself.
But knowing him and the way he acts, he's probably too foolish to realize it.
Comments
Tex
Andy Nolan was walking in just in front of me. He received a call on his cell phone. Apparently from a client. He tok the call on speaker phone (either that or it was so loud I could also hear his client). He then proceeded to allow his client to tell his "story" while others could clearly hear it. I guess Andy does not know about waiving attorney client privilege!
No, I don't think Andy is Rage. Although I usually disagree with Rage, he isn't an idiot. He's actually pretty damn intelligent. Just misguided -- kidding, Rage.
Anon 4:57 p.m.,
I am very proud of the title of King of the Practical Joke when I was at the D.A.'s Office. But I never pulled a practical joke on somebody I didn't like, and nothing I ever did was mean spirited. I never lost a friend or had one angry with me over anything I ever did to them, and I could take a practical joke in retaliation with the best of them.
And I never never never pulled a joke on anyone that could have potentially affected their job.
You are comparing apples with oranges, dude.
(I'm really Mark Bennett.)
Before he fires a half witted response about not considering someone smart just because I disagree, I will freely admit that I believe Mark Bennett, Troy McKinney, and a series of others intelligent even though I vehemently disagree with them. The difference is that their opinions are based on actual experience and not newspaper headlines.
As I have said before, Rage uses the anonymity of the internet to make blanket statements with no accountability. That is why he won't give a name, even though he claims he has nothing to lose by doing so.
As for my stories being based only on headlines... the on;y thing I've really posted about to any degree as of late is the exoneration of Ricardo Rachell, and his exoneration is proof enough that at least three ADA's cared nothing about justice and ignored exculpatory evidence in his case leading to the conviction of an innocent man. And that is not an isolated case.
So, say what you want about my posts not being based in truth, but you're just flat-out dishonest in doing so.
Rage
I've gotten multiple complaints the past two days about posts not going through. I'm not getting them.
I don't know what is going on.
I haven't blocked anything from you in months.
Despite repeated requests to do so. :-)
It showed up above though. They must just be coming through late, since that's the third or fourth time of late that they showed quite a bit later than they were posted.
Rage
Piece of Shit!
Has anyone ever seen him try a case? Funny that he would be bad mouthing trial attorneys because all he ever does is plead people. He's not even competing for the same clients!
Forget the main topic of this stream. Please tell me where you went on VACATION so I can avoid this relaxing place. :)>
Funny you should mention libel. I wonder if any of you have any proof or any evidence that Andy did any of things that you allege? Funny also you should mention going to court. Remember, courts require evidence. Some of you have made rather serious allegations against Andy Nolen, and foolishly signed your name to them. Are you prepared to produce evidence in court that he committed any of these acts? Because if you aren't, I would suggest that you stop making allegations that you cannot prove. I would think that attorneys would know better than to take rumors, without any proof other than innuendo and suggestions, and start making serious accusations against someone. Because you are right about one thing, some attorneys actually try all sorts of cases in front of juries, and win.
But you sure as hell are not a top shelf trial attorney so shut the fuck up.
It's nothing new. No honor...well, you know the rest.
Your bravado exposes your pretense; neither of which amounts to shit. So if you haven't already signed up with Team Troll you're missing your calling. Judge Pat is looking for big talkers with little sticks.