Despite Sanctions Threat, Lawyer Spars with Judge Over Scheduling Order
A labor lawyer from one of two Orlando law firms threatened with sanctions for missing scheduling orders sparred with a federal judge in a hearing this month.
Richard Celler, who heads the wage-and-hour division of Morgan & Morgan, told the National Law Journal it’s impossible to comply with the order since it requires lawyers to specify damages sought within 30 days of filing an overtime suit, before employers can turn over files on pay. Celler contends federal judges in Orlando are trying to cut down on wage-and-hour suits through the order.
Celler sparred with Magistrate Judge Gregory Kelly in an Aug. 6 hearing, the legal newspaper reports.
“It’s no secret, your honor—and I’m being very delicate with my words—there’s no secret that the federal bench is not enamored with these cases,” Celler said.
Kelly “fired back angrily,” according to the account. “I take great offense at that,” Kelly said. “I’m a public servant and I have responsibility to address every type of case that comes in front of me and to address each case evenhandedly.”
Celler told the NLJ that his firm has no plans to decrease the number of wage-and-hour cases it handles. In fact, he said, Morgan & Morgan is opening new offices in is Atlanta, Mississippi and California.
His response is in marked contrast to that taken by the Pantas Law Firm. Name partner Konstantine Pantas vowed to reduce the firm’s case load. Lawers at the firm believe “our focus should be on quality instead of quantity,” Pantas wrote.
