How did law partners’ bigoted, racist emails stay secret?
To the editor: As a former fairness associate at Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith, I used to be dismayed to study concerning the circulation of racist emails on the Los Angeles legislation agency for greater than a decade. These emails have been written by two companions who just lately broke off from the agency.
My disappointment was particularly eager as a result of in the course of the years that I used to be with the agency within the Eighties and early ’90s, the management made efforts to racially diversify its lawyer ranks at a time when minority illustration in giant legislation companies was dismal.
However now it’s troublesome to sq. a diversity-welcoming surroundings with a spot the place two apparently racist and bigoted companions have been previously on the administration committee.
Your article mentions that the 2 offending attorneys copied others inside the agency on their emails. The truth that evidently nobody raised the alarm about these emails contemporaneously suggests both that the racial animus extends past two “dangerous apples” or, simply as badly, the workers who noticed these emails didn’t see them as an issue.
Both means, I hope my former agency sees match to find out how in depth racist sympathies run inside its ranks after which handle the problem appropriately.
Agustin Medina, South Pasadena
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To the editor: A cherished piece of recommendation I obtained as a freshly minted lawyer with Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith was this: Assume something you place in writing might be learn by a decide.
When reviewing my drafts, my supervisor advised me that earlier than posting a letter, I ought to re-read it and picture my adversary introducing it as a courtroom exhibit. That was a time when faxes have been cutting-edge, however the recommendation applies equally nicely to emails and texts and no matter comes subsequent.
I’ve adopted that instruction ever since and fortunately won’t ever know all the difficulty it has saved me. Too dangerous the attorneys John Barber and Jeff Ranen needed to study this lesson the arduous means.
Edgar Saenz, Los Angeles
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To the editor: Because of the nice reporting that uncovered the shockingly bigoted and hateful emails of two high-ranking legislation companions — even because it uncovered the darkish aspect of a few of Los Angeles’ elite professionals.
Maybe these two Pied Pipers and their keen right-wing followers ought to now contemplate heading to Florida to arrange store. The repugnant political tradition created there by Gov. Ron DeSantis ought to welcome these guys with open arms.
June Maguire, Mission Viejo
