That's apparently the question at issue in the case of a fired NY associate, Gregory Berry, who, in an internal email asking for more work, bragged about his "superior legal mind." From the ABA Journal:
Berry ... argues in his brief that Kasowitz Benson's response to his email was "outrageous and extreme" compared to how another law firm would have handled the situation and contends that he is hence entitled to compensation for emotional distress, the article recounts. His lawsuit seeks $77 million in damages.
"The context of the legal profession ... perhaps more than any other, is one of civility and decorum," Berry writes.. "In this context, the aggressiveness and the overt hostility, vindictiveness and pettiness to which defendants subjected plaintiff were shocking."
The law firm has denied his allegations and says Berry's suit is precluded by a $27,000 severance pact to which he agreed. He is, the firm contends, in "flagrant breach" of the once-confidential settlement agreement.
Characteristically, Above the Law is all over the case.
And from Berry's own solo firm website, a touché of sorts:
Before his career in the law, Mr. Berry worked for several years as a software engineer in Silicon Valley. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Law and began his legal career at the "big-law" firm of Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman. He quickly discovered that the emphasis in "big-law" firms on generating billable hours rather than on applying creativity and intelligence to devising unorthodox and cutting-edge legal strategies left Mr. Berry wasting his talents. Mr. Berry became a lawyer to fight for justice and to use his powers for good. He started this law firm to lend his abilities to clients who need the highest legal talent possible.
