William P. Smith, the Chicago-based McDermott Will & Emery partner who told a Miami bankruptcy judge in open court "[Y]ou’re a few french fries short of a Happy Meal" (transcript here) was ordered yesterday by the judge to take an online professionalism course from the Flordia bar (even though he is is not a member of the Florida Bar and was practicing in Miami as a visiting lawyer). Smith and the firm’s chairman apologized to the judge yesterday, and his lawyer reported that Smith has (1) already taken the course, (2) stepped down as chair of the firm’s bankruptcy practice, (3) made a donation to the University of Miami’s Center for Ethics and Public Service, and (4) and agreed to perform 200 hours of pro bono work in Chicago. The judge declined to suspend him from practicing in her court
Prior TaxProf Blog coverage:
- Law Firm to Apologize for Lawyer Telling Judge "You’re a Few French Fries Short of a Happy Meal" (6/15/07)
- Lawyer Who Told Judge "You’re a Few French Fries Short of a Happy Meal" Loses Client, May Lose Ability to Practice Before Judge (5/31/07)
- Lawyer Tells Judge in Open Court: "You’re a Few French Fries Short of a Happy Meal" (5/24/07)
