Post by Dirk BruerePost by Heidi GrawLilith, Rorik is that lawyer. If I criticise Rorik's behavior that he
demonstrates on the Internet, I'm criticising a legal representative...a
guy who is very much involved in legal affairs.
I am participating in the legal system. I'm criticising Rorik's
behavior. I believe his behavior damages the image of the legal
profession. This is a legal issue...professional conduct and whether or
not that can be improved.
That section I pointed to is very much applicable to what we're
discussing here.
You may not see it. But I do.
I think you'll find that the code of conduct applies only to those doing
business with the lawyer.
I believe it extends beyond doing business. It does mention communication
with the public. For example, if the media hounds a lawyer to make a
statement about what the public is interested in, that lawyer has to be
careful how he words things. The media is not in business with that lawyer,
nor is the public. That lawyer cannot make slanderous remarks about anyone
when he's put into such a situation.
So, while some may interpret that section very narrowly, others may
interpret it more liberally. There is an attempt to clarify what is meant
in section 12 of the code via this example:
Examples - Lawyers shall:
a. When making public communications shall at all times and under all
circumstances reflect appropriate civility, professional integrity, personal
dignity, and respect for the legal system. This rule does not prohibit good
faith, factually based expressions of dissent or criticism made by a lawyer
in public or private discussions having a purpose to motivate improvements
in our legal system or profession.
b. Not make false or misleading statements.
Post by Dirk BruereAnd Rorik will find he has no grounds for legal action since what you did
was patently legal.
Oh, I already know that. However, what concerns me is his ongoing,
incessant and repeated false claim that I was harassing and venomously
attacking his wife and that I'm now going after his children. Huh?
Clearly, Rorik has lost it! He keeps on slandering me over and over again
over something I didn't do. Then he ends up writing a sexually harassing
poem about me. He invites people to obtain even filthier stuff about me
through e-mail. And all this merely because I disagree with his wife's
"Under God" advocacy and her career activities can be discussed because she
does have that on-line presense that describes her professional career?
She's "fair game" to be discussed because her activities are described
on-line. I didn't say she was "fair game" to hunt down and harass! Good
grief! And just where does Rorik get this notion I'm searching out his
children? He has definitely gone bananas.
Post by Dirk BruereEthical in the wider sense is something else.
Ethically-wise, Rorik has definitely stepped way over the line. And my
inquiry as to whether or not the PLF has an employee code of conduct for
Internet use is not something that can be construed as harassment. And
neither was it unethical. Rorik's name wasn't even mentioned. I made no
reference to him at all. The PLF also has various offices located all over
the place. It is of *general* interest...a *general* inquiry to be treated
as a *general* concern...nothing more and nothing less.
Anyway, as it is, Rorik can certainly go ahead and persue whatever legal
action he wants to persue. He's already dug into the BC Assessment
Authority's on-line archives to find out stuff about my property. He's
probably also searched out whatever other information is so typically
available to lawyers, but not to the general public. Heck, he probably has
done a credit check on me, plus searched out whether or not I have a
previous criminal record. He probably already knows whether or not I've had
a traffic ticket or two. I'll bet Rorik has been a busy little beaver
digging around for information to try to build up that suit. ;-)
I will, in the meantime, sit and wait until I hear back from the PLF about
that general inquiry I made. And if Rorik presents me with some legal
correspondence, I'll deal with it when the time comes.
Heidi