Wash. judge tells verbose lawyer to make it snappy

[July 08, 2008]  TACOMA, Wash. (AP) -- A federal judge in Tacoma has told a lawyer he needs to make it snappy.

Judge Ronald Leighton balked at a 465-page lawsuit that made its way onto his desk. He invoked a rarely used rule that requires a "short and plain statement" of allegations.

The title of the racketeering lawsuit filed by attorney Dean Browning Webb was eight pages long.

The judge issued his order in a limerick:

"Plaintiff has a great deal to say,
But it seems he skipped Rule 8(a).
His Complaint is too long,
Which renders it wrong,
Please rewrite and refile today."

[Associated Press]

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