Amy Goodusky
Amy F. Goodusky, a former paralegal, rock 'n' roll singer and horseback riding instructor, is of counsel at O'Brien, Tanski & Young in Hartford.
Legal Ease
Let's Levy An Annoyance Tax
Monday, April 13, 2009 | by Amy Goodusky | The Connecticut Law Tribune
This column has previously been devoted to the vexing problem of questionably qualified experts. I expounded in a witty and appealing fashion about medical specialists who might cross the borders of their expertise, for instance, having an anesthesiologist give a good-faith opinion about podiatry, or a dentist assess the standard of care owed by a neurosurgeon. I wish to discuss another type of distressingly unqualified experts. A recent conversation with one such individual caused me to break out of my usual pattern of dealing with frustration by invading the office candy bowls and acquiring anything that vaguely resembled chocolate. I was in such need of nutritional narcosis by the time I finished the call that I headed straight for the mashed potatoes.
Legal Ease
A Little Laughter Lightens Up An Often Grim Business
Wednesday, March 18, 2009 | by Amy Goodusky | The Connecticut Law Tribune
Practicing law is a grim business. My clients are not here because they want to be. Being sued is not precisely a gleeful event. The facts of the cases themselves could cause the most sanguine individual to consider Russian roulette as a recreational pursuit.
Legal Ease
Frances, Space Aliens And An Imaginary Verdict
Monday, March 16, 2009 | by Amy Goodusky | The Connecticut Law Tribune
Another pro se plaintiff who has brightened my life as a medical malpractice defense attorney is a woman I'll call "Frances." Frances brought her first claim a few years ago. Her lawsuit alleged various incidents of medical negligence, including one claim that she was spirited up to the roof of the hospital in question to have sexual relations with a physician, and possibly some space aliens. This had occurred around 1953.
Legal Ease
There's Nothing Appealing About Filing One Of Them
Monday, March 9, 2009 | by Amy Goodusky | The Connecticut Law Tribune
Appellate work can be dicey. There are so many requirements for formatting, font styles, number of copies and, worst of all, deadlines. I find that when working on appellate issues, I require silence and large amounts of food.
Legal Ease
Nothing Funny About Drinking And Driving
Monday, March 2, 2009 | by Amy Goodusky | The Connecticut Law Tribune
Usually, this column is devoted to the lighter side of the legal profession. Maybe, as a music reviewer once noted about my vocal performance, the column is "occasionally somewhat pleasant" to read. What I wish to say here may not really be pleasant, to write or to read, and certainly is not intended to be funny.
Legal Ease
Pro Se Felon Turns Into Friendly Foe
Monday, February 2, 2009 | by Amy Goodusky | The Connecticut Law Tribune
My favorite pro se was a man I'll call Eddie. Eddie was a guest of the State of Connecticut, serving time for a felony or two. While in the tuna fish can, he experienced chest pain, whereupon they brought him to a local hospital, my client. Eddie claimed that while he was undergoing a stress test, he fell off the treadmill, sustaining sprains, strains, and various other not terribly detectable injuries, which were all of a permanent and disabling nature. He filed a lawsuit. Among other things, Eddie asserted that his civil rights had been violated. His complaint was drafted in ballpoint pen on lined yellow paper. He had highly legible handwriting and impeccable grammar.
Legal Ease
A Real Need For Some Imaginary Colleagues
Monday, January 26, 2009 | by Amy Goodusky | The Connecticut Law Tribune
Practicing law from the defense side is a little like trying to climb Maine's Mount Katahdin in a body cast. I refer to the guidelines from our law firm's payors related to covered activities.
Legal Ease
Obvious Messages Are Signs Of The Times
Monday, January 19, 2009 | by Amy Goodusky | The Connecticut Law Tribune
I think I have discovered a new disease. This could be because I defend malpractice cases, which require detailed research on medical conditions both bizarre and mundane, but I have not seen anything about this malady in the scientific literature. Really, I think I'm on to something. Like other famous diseases, it could be referred to colloquially by acronym. I call it PIRO, or Pathological Inability to Recognize the Obvious. I suspect it is an autoimmune disorder.
