Yesterday, I wrote about what might happen if you hit the wrong email name. The Wall Street Journal recently reported on real-life email gaffes:
- "Earlier this month, we blogged on an alleged email gaffe made by a Pepper Hamilton lawyer who, with one errant mouse click, reportedly sent information intended for a client to a New York Times reporter. If that tale didn’t make some managing partners squirm in their seats (or at least dream fondly of the days of Telex), perhaps this one will:"
"Skadden Arps products-liability superstar Sheila Birnbaum mistakenly sent to reporters an email that was intended to be directed “internally.” The email was in response to a press release issued by the office of Mississippi AG Jim Hood. ... Birnbaum allegedly wrote, “This is so over the top. Can we ask that he be held in contempt of court for misrepresenting a settlement agreement and order of the court.” But the email didn’t go to co-counsel. It went back to Schaefer and to more than a dozen reporters. Birnbaum told the AP she thought she was responding internally to Schaefer’s e-mail and didn’t realize she was sending it to reporters.
“I’m embarrassed that I pressed the wrong button,” she said. “That e-mail shouldn’t have gone out.”
“She obviously thought she was sharing those thoughts with her legal colleagues,” said State Farm spokesman Phil Supple. “But, nonetheless, those are her thoughts.”
"Late night email from opposing counsel accusing me of being afraid to take a case to trial. I thought I was replying only to the lawyers in my firm but hit “reply all.” Used many a swear word and my nickname for opposing counsel and he did not take kindly to it and movedmoved for sanctions against me. Court denied them, but since then I have set my email so that the default is reply sender only. Always a good idea."
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