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June 20, 2005

another winner in the legal profession

Add another entry into the “too dumb to be practicing” archives.  Found via the Advice Goddess blog:

An e-mail exchange between a law firm executive and a secretary over a ketchup stain has set London's legal world buzzing.

The details were forwarded across the city after Richard Phillips, a senior associate at Baker & McKenzie, sent a message to secretary Jenny Amner.

The exchange appears to refer to her spilling ketchup on Phillips' trousers and who should pay the cleaning bill, UK's Press Association reported.

The first e-mail, which Phillips sent on May 25, said: "Hi Jenny. I went to a dry cleaners at lunch and they said it would cost £4 to remove the ketchup stains. If you cd let me have the cash today, that wd be much appreciated."

On June 3, Amner replied: "With reference to the e-mail below, I must apologize for not getting back to you straight away but due to my mother's sudden illness, death and funeral I have had more pressing issues than your £4.

"I apologize again for accidentally getting a few splashes of ketchup on your trousers. Obviously your financial need as a senior associate is greater than mine as a mere secretary."

She wrote that she had told various partners, lawyers and trainees about his e-mail and they had offered to "do a collection" to raise the cash.

"I however declined their kind offer but should you feel the urgent need for the £4, it will be on my desk this afternoon."

Amy Alkon (aka ‘The Advice Goddess’) called it “classy” – I would just call it what it is – “sleazy”.  When CNN runs a story like this – it makes you realize that what your Mom told you growing up really does hold water:

Don’t do or say anything you wouldn’t want to see on the front page of the newspaper.

Jenny Amner (the secretary), let me know if you can’t raise the 4 pounds.  I would be happy to send it to you.

UPDATE: Looks like I will be spared sending Ms. Amner 4 pounds – thanks to the “anonymous Editor” over at Blawg Review for pointing to this follow-up article from The Telegraph.

Clean means Heinz, lawyer told

By Elizabeth Day

The manufacturers of Heinz tomato ketchup have offered to pay the £4 dry cleaning bill of a City lawyer who claimed that a secretary spilt the condiment over his trousers.

Richard Phillips, 36, who is reputed to earn £85,000 a year as a senior associate with the world's fifth largest law firm, Baker & McKenzie, was embarrassed last week by the leaking of an e-mail correspondence in which he asked his secretary, Jenny Amner, to reimburse him for spilling ketchup on his trousers.

Mrs Amner, who earns about £25,000 a year, was on compassionate leave attending her mother's funeral at the time.

Michael Mullen, the director of European Corporate Affairs for Heinz Europe, said that the company - which sells 120 million bottles of tomato ketchup a year in Britain - would be more than willing to ensure that Mr Phillips's trousers were free of unsightly stains.

"Vinegar diluted with water is a quick and easy home remedy for removing ketchup," Mr Mullen told The Sunday Telegraph informatively, "but we are happy to pay Mr Phillips' dry cleaning bill instead.

"After all, why should Ms Amner pay the price for enjoying the world's favourite ketchup?"

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 11:36 AM.
Permalink: another winner in the legal profession
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