As I kiss my wife goodbye this morning, she says “Have a nice day.”

“I would,” I tell her, “but my enemies have other plans.”

I received another one of those letters that annoy me from opposing counsel today.  This one starts out by saying the wife is disappointed in the husband’s settlement offer.

It would surprise me one day to receive a letter that says opposing counsel’s client is delighted by my client’s settlement offer.

He might as well be telling me that it is raining outside or the sun is shining.  Thanks for the weather report, but what does that have to do with the business at hand?  The letter goes on for three pages of counterproposals, but I am already put in a too bad a mood by his beginning to view them with much favor.

That is why I always try to begin such letters with something like, “Thank you for your proposal.  It was a pleasure speaking with you.  I look forward to trying to settle this case with you.”  You get the idea.  People are more likely to settle cases with people they like than people they don’t like.