Sleepless In Providence - RI Lead Paint Trial

Today is Friday, February 17th and it's my hunch that few associated with the Rhode Island (RI) lead paint trial slept much last night.   

Judge Michael Silverstein seems to have sleep or the lack of it a lot on his mind.  When court began and ended yesterday he mentioned it.  When he said that in the AM, the court burst out laughing.  When he said that in the PM, it was in reference to his hopes that the jury would get a good night's sleep. 

As for sleepless in Providence, I had already finished reading VANITY FAIR, NEW YORK Magazine, and was starting to re-read David Kline's book "Blog!" when I recalled advice from a sleep-disorder clinic.  It recommended not looking at the time, getting into bed, just staying there and not worrying about sleeping.  That did the trick. 

Will the misery of the jury end today?  For their sakes I hope they just pull the plug.  I also hope that one or more of them emerges from this trauma as legal activists protesting poorly conceived legal theories such as public nuisance.  Pro bono, I would coach the foreperson how to be present himself on media ranging from "Today" to Greta, Nancy and maybe even a cameo part on "Boston Legal."  That coaching would consist of just telling him:  Be yourself.  We all loved you just that way.

You bet, I'm ripped and ready for a cause.  Neighbors, friends, family of Juror 241, encourage him to push back on having been made to suffer at the hands of an abstraction like public nuisance.  Yeah, let's all push back. 

Side Note:  If this particular trial didn't make you angry enough, check out similar ones on overlawyered.com.