The 'Bla Bla Bla' E-Mail Heard Around the World - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Janice · 02-19-2006, 03:35 PM

The 'Bla Bla Bla' E-Mail Heard Around the World

Angry Would-Be Employer Sends Lawyer's Message Far and Wide

ABCNews.com

(Feb. 19) - Two weeks ago, newly minted young Boston attorney Dianna Abdala e-mailed a prospective employer, William Korman.

"The pay you are offering would neither fulfill me nor support the lifestyle I am living," she wrote, turning down his job offer.

Korman was not happy.

"You had two interviews, were offered and accepted the job (indeed, you had a definite start date)."

He'd already ordered her stationery and business cards, and set up her office computer and was amazed she conveyed her second thoughts by e-mail.

"It smacks of immaturity and is quite unprofessional," he wrote.

Abdala's response? "A real lawyer would have put the contract into writing and not exercised any such reliance until he did so," she wrote.

"This is a very small legal community," Korman responded. "Do you really want to start pissing off more experienced lawyers at this early stage of your career?"

Abdala finally answered, "Bla bla bla."

An ordinary office spat? Nope. Korman forwarded the exchange to a friend … and it spread throughout the Boston legal community -- and then to the Boston Globe, to the International Herald Tribune, to ABC News' "Nightline."

It was the "bla bla bla" heard round the world -- making Abdala the most famous, perhaps notorious, 24-year-old lawyer in America.

E-Mail Gaffes

E-mail never has been more immediate, intimate and indelible -- whether FEMA director Michael Brown's e-mail jokes during Hurricane Katrina about being "a fashion god"; or disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff e-mailing about his clients, "These mofos are the stupidest idiots in the land"; or the executive of the drug company that made the banned weight-loss treatment Phen-Fen e-mailing, "Do I have to look forward to spending my waning years writing checks to fat people worried about a silly lung problem?"

Earlier this week in congressional hearings about Katrina, it came out that neither Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff nor Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld use email.

Our first response? Smart men.

Janice · 02-19-2006, 03:39 PM

Read E-Mail Spat That Spread Through Cyberspace

Lawyers' Heated Argument Over Employment Agreement Went Public

Feb. 19) - Dianna Abdala, a 24-year-old Boston-area attorney, had apparently agreed to work for William Korman.

Then things went sour in a series of last minute e-mails.

Following is their e-mail correspondence, obtained by ABC News' "Nightline," that degenerated into a spat that got e-mailed to various attorneys, publications and "Nightline."

-----Original Message-----
From: Dianna Abdala
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2006 9:23 PM
To: William A. Korman
Subject: Thank you

Dear Attorney Korman,
At this time, I am writing to inform you that I will not be accepting your offer.
After careful consideration, I have come to the conclusion that the pay you are offering would neither fulfill me nor support the lifestyle I am living in light of the work I would be doing for you. I have decided instead to work for myself, and reap 100% of the benefits that I sow.
Thank you for the interviews.
Dianna L. Abdala, Esq.

-----Original Message-----
From: William A. Korman
To: Dianna Abdala
Sent: Monday, February 06, 2006 12:15 PM
Subject: RE: Thank you

Dianna --
Given that you had two interviews, were offered and accepted the job (indeed, you had a definite start date), I am surprised that you chose an e-mail and a 9:30 PM voicemail message to convey this information to me. It smacks of immaturity and is quite unprofessional. Indeed, I did rely upon your acceptance by ordering stationary and business cards with your name, reformatting a computer and setting up both internal and external e-mails for you here at the office. While I do not quarrel with your reasoning, I am extremely disappointed in the way this played out. I sincerely wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors.
Will Korman

-----Original Message-----
From: Dianna Abdala
Sent: Monday, February 06, 2006 4:01 PM
To: William A. Korman
Subject: Re: Thank you

A real lawyer would have put the contract into writing and not exercised any such reliance until he did so.
Again, thank you.

-----Original Message-----
From: William A. Korman
To: Dianna Abdala
Sent: Monday, February 06, 2006 4:18 PM
Subject: RE: Thank you

Thank you for the refresher course on contracts. This is not a bar exam question. You need to realize that this is a very small legal community, especially the criminal defense bar. Do you really want to start pissing off more experienced lawyers at this early stage of your career?

-----Original Message-----
From: Dianna Abdala
To: William A. Korman
Sent: Monday, February 06, 2006 4:28 PM
Subject: Re: Thank you

bla bla bla

Courtnee · 02-19-2006, 04:15 PM

Ireneparalegal · 02-19-2006, 04:34 PM

Start her own business????? Good Luck to that. She will regret it. You have to start at the bottom sometimes. Dumb lady.

Bobby F. · 02-19-2006, 04:59 PM

Too funny!

Janice · 02-19-2006, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Start her own business????? Good Luck to that. She will regret it. You have to start at the bottom sometimes. Dumb lady.

Yup, dumb and shortsighted with a huge blast of arrogance thrown in. Of course, in this day and age, she'll probably get famous over this and get offered a great job with a high salary.

Chocoholic · 02-21-2006, 10:31 AM

She sounds like a selfish, classless little brat with a huge sense of entitlement. I know I wouldn't want her to represent me in court.

TJL · 02-21-2006, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

Yup, dumb and shortsighted with a huge blast of arrogance thrown in. Of course, in this day and age, she'll probably get famous over this and get offered a great job with a high salary.

I don't doubt that. By now the interview requests and book offers are pouring in.

But as hommerific stated, this girl sounds like an arrogant brat, and hopefully nothing will come of this, except a blackballing by every law firm in Massachusetts.

MsOrange · 02-21-2006, 10:58 AM

that is hilarious! sounds like he wouldn't have wanted her in his firm anyway. I hope she ends up bagging groceries and finally solving the BIG case: "paper or plastic?"

Janice · 02-21-2006, 01:02 PM

Her picture.

MsOrange · 02-21-2006, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

Her picture.

she's got a weird smile.

Janice · 02-21-2006, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MsOrange

she's got a weird smile.

Probably because she's a weirdo.

02-19-2006, 03:35 PM	#1
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	The 'Bla Bla Bla' E-Mail Heard Around the World The 'Bla Bla Bla' E-Mail Heard Around the World Angry Would-Be Employer Sends Lawyer's Message Far and Wide ABCNews.com (Feb. 19) - Two weeks ago, newly minted young Boston attorney Dianna Abdala e-mailed a prospective employer, William Korman. "The pay you are offering would neither fulfill me nor support the lifestyle I am living," she wrote, turning down his job offer. Korman was not happy. "You had two interviews, were offered and accepted the job (indeed, you had a definite start date)." He'd already ordered her stationery and business cards, and set up her office computer and was amazed she conveyed her second thoughts by e-mail. "It smacks of immaturity and is quite unprofessional," he wrote. Abdala's response? "A real lawyer would have put the contract into writing and not exercised any such reliance until he did so," she wrote. "This is a very small legal community," Korman responded. "Do you really want to start pissing off more experienced lawyers at this early stage of your career?" Abdala finally answered, "Bla bla bla." An ordinary office spat? Nope. Korman forwarded the exchange to a friend … and it spread throughout the Boston legal community -- and then to the Boston Globe, to the International Herald Tribune, to ABC News' "Nightline." It was the "bla bla bla" heard round the world -- making Abdala the most famous, perhaps notorious, 24-year-old lawyer in America. E-Mail Gaffes E-mail never has been more immediate, intimate and indelible -- whether FEMA director Michael Brown's e-mail jokes during Hurricane Katrina about being "a fashion god"; or disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff e-mailing about his clients, "These mofos are the stupidest idiots in the land"; or the executive of the drug company that made the banned weight-loss treatment Phen-Fen e-mailing, "Do I have to look forward to spending my waning years writing checks to fat people worried about a silly lung problem?" Earlier this week in congressional hearings about Katrina, it came out that neither Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff nor Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld use email. Our first response? Smart men.

02-19-2006, 04:15 PM	#3
Courtnee MAN VS SAMMICH. Forum Star Join Date: Mar 23, 2005 Location: Louisiana Posts: 16,413
	__________________ Whether I'm the rose of sheer perfection A freckle on the nose of life's complexion The Cinderella or the shine apple of its eye I gotta fly once, I gotta try once, Only can die once, right, sir? Ooh, life is juicy, juicy and you see, I gotta have my bite, sir. Get ready for me love, 'cause I'm a "comer" I simply gotta march, my heart's a drummer Don't bring around the cloud to rain on my parade

02-19-2006, 04:34 PM	#4
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	Start her own business????? Good Luck to that. She will regret it. You have to start at the bottom sometimes. Dumb lady.
	__________________ DALLAS COWBOYS ARE HERE AT TRAINING CAMP!!!

02-21-2006, 10:58 AM	#9
MsOrange Bringin' Sexy Back Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 27, 2004 Posts: 6,133	that is hilarious! sounds like he wouldn't have wanted her in his firm anyway. I hope she ends up bagging groceries and finally solving the BIG case: "paper or plastic?"
	Last edited by MsOrange; 02-21-2006 at 01:09 PM.

02-19-2006, 03:39 PM	#2
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Read E-Mail Spat That Spread Through Cyberspace Lawyers' Heated Argument Over Employment Agreement Went Public Feb. 19) - Dianna Abdala, a 24-year-old Boston-area attorney, had apparently agreed to work for William Korman. Then things went sour in a series of last minute e-mails. Following is their e-mail correspondence, obtained by ABC News' "Nightline," that degenerated into a spat that got e-mailed to various attorneys, publications and "Nightline." -----Original Message----- From: Dianna Abdala Sent: Friday, February 03, 2006 9:23 PM To: William A. Korman Subject: Thank you Dear Attorney Korman, At this time, I am writing to inform you that I will not be accepting your offer. After careful consideration, I have come to the conclusion that the pay you are offering would neither fulfill me nor support the lifestyle I am living in light of the work I would be doing for you. I have decided instead to work for myself, and reap 100% of the benefits that I sow. Thank you for the interviews. Dianna L. Abdala, Esq. -----Original Message----- From: William A. Korman To: Dianna Abdala Sent: Monday, February 06, 2006 12:15 PM Subject: RE: Thank you Dianna -- Given that you had two interviews, were offered and accepted the job (indeed, you had a definite start date), I am surprised that you chose an e-mail and a 9:30 PM voicemail message to convey this information to me. It smacks of immaturity and is quite unprofessional. Indeed, I did rely upon your acceptance by ordering stationary and business cards with your name, reformatting a computer and setting up both internal and external e-mails for you here at the office. While I do not quarrel with your reasoning, I am extremely disappointed in the way this played out. I sincerely wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors. Will Korman -----Original Message----- From: Dianna Abdala Sent: Monday, February 06, 2006 4:01 PM To: William A. Korman Subject: Re: Thank you A real lawyer would have put the contract into writing and not exercised any such reliance until he did so. Again, thank you. -----Original Message----- From: William A. Korman To: Dianna Abdala Sent: Monday, February 06, 2006 4:18 PM Subject: RE: Thank you Thank you for the refresher course on contracts. This is not a bar exam question. You need to realize that this is a very small legal community, especially the criminal defense bar. Do you really want to start pissing off more experienced lawyers at this early stage of your career? -----Original Message----- From: Dianna Abdala To: William A. Korman Sent: Monday, February 06, 2006 4:28 PM Subject: Re: Thank you bla bla bla

02-19-2006, 04:59 PM	#5
Bobby F. Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 30, 2004 Posts: 3,818	Too funny!

02-21-2006, 10:31 AM	#7
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	She sounds like a selfish, classless little brat with a huge sense of entitlement. I know I wouldn't want her to represent me in court.

02-21-2006, 01:02 PM	#10
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Her picture.