Steve as a Litigator - by Peter

Steve spent a number of years as a litigator before becoming a transactional lawyer.  He was amused by many of the "customs" and posturings of the litigation trade.  For example, when he took depositions, he always began, as everyone did, with the ordinary "admonitions," including a reminder that the witness was under oath, as if testifying in court, and was obliged the tell the truth under penalty of perjury.  Steve believed that the witnesses always agreed; then went ahead and lied anyway.  After one frustrating deposition, Steve came into my office and told me that at his next deposition, he was going to go through the admonitions, as always, and ask whether the witness understood the penalty of perjury.  Then, he would pull a large revolver from his briefcase, put it on the table in front of him, and begin his examination.  

To my knowledge, Steve never did that, but instead went on to become a star in the more rational world of transactional lawyers.  He was well-known and highly respected -- within Morrison and nationally -- in the financial services and energy fields.