So, How Important is Legal Writing, Anyway?

Pretty darn important.  Thanks to Greg Lambert of the Three Geeks and a Law Blog, for his post  It Seems That Judges Want More In Your Complaints Than Just Your Complaining , reporting two cases thrown out by judges for faulty legal writing.  In a Montana court, the judge dismissed a mandamus action for failing to cite the statute the petitioner’s wanted the court to enforce. ( Right to Vote Missoula.Com v. City of Missoula, BO. DV-10-821,Montana Fourth Judicial District, 2010).  On Monday, the  New York  Federal District Court, Southern District  dismissed the 112 page  complaint in  Woodward v. Raymond James in a 24 page opinion, noting that ” the extreme length of the Amended Complaint is an independent ground for dismissal, pursuant to Rule 8(a)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, which requires that a pleading contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” ”  Read Lambert’s post, then take a look at the cases for a lesson in what not to do!