Civility with a bit of holiday spirit

Leslie J. Smith, a lawyer in Oakville, Ont., sent to opposing counsel David McCutcheon a holiday-themed acceptance of an offer to settle. The letter, she was told, raised the spirits of opposing counsel and other members of his office. Legal Feeds is here to share it with all you good folks! Below is the acceptance letter as sent earlier today.

T’was the night before Christmas when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The Plaintiff was nestled all snug in his bed
While Santa was typing the thoughts in his head:
To you, Dear Plaintiff, Santa began
I offer to you a sum so grand –
$45,000 inclusive of all,
That you might release me from further a fall.
Santa, so hopeful, his Offer not mocking
Did tuck it so quietly into the Plaintiff’s stocking.
And with a twinkle in his eye and a tap on his nose,
Santa alas, up the chimney he rose.
When morning dawned and the Plaintiff awoke,
He ran downstairs, not a word he spoke.
He pull out the Offer that Santa had left
Reading it carefully with skillful deft.
Pausing to call his lawyer so quick
Making sure this was no reindeer trick.
But trick it was not!, his lawyer did say
This Offer for you comes this very day!
And with tears of joy, the Plaintiff, he wept
As he declared to one and all,
“I ACCEPT!”
I shall release you Dear Santa, the Plaintiff did sigh
From all claims far and wide and low and high.
And t’was heard from Santa from far out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”

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