'Consequences – They Sure Suck' – Dallas Bar Examines Civility in the Legal Profession

© 2016 The Texas Lawbook.By Mark Curriden (Sept. 12) – The TV commercial starts with a warning: “This is a dramatization.” For 40 seconds, “criminals” buying and selling drugs, stealing stereo equipment and hiring the services of a prostitute look into the camera. “Thanks, Dan,” each one states, expressing appreciation to the Pittsburgh criminal defense lawyer Dan Musseig for helping them get out of jail and apparently back to work. The advertisement was the talk of a Dallas Bar Association program Friday about civility and dignity in the legal profession. The half-day CLE examined whether incivility, advertising, Rambo litigation tactics and unethical conduct are causing the public to have an increasingly negative view of lawyers. The program featured three legal legends – Nina Cortell, Frank Branson and Rod Phelan – and three federal judges – Chief Judge Barbara Lynn, Judge Jane Boyle and retired judge Royal Furgeson, who is now dean of the UNT School of Law. The final session of the day, which included Texas Court of Appeals Justice Doug Lang, legendary business lawyer Frank Ramirez, WFAA journalist Jason Trahan and me, focused on the role of the news media in highlighting bad conduct by lawyers. The “Thanks, Dan”…