The Phish Community
The Colorado Presiding Disciplinary Judge approved a public censure of an attorney
Schielke sent a demand letter on behalf of a client—Schielke’s close friend—to a lawyer whom the client alleged had injured her in February 2022 at a music concert in Mexico featuring the band, Phish. The client alleged that the lawyer, while naked, shoved the client and other crowd members when he attempted to rush the stage at the concert. In the letter, Schielke used demeaning and unprofessional language to refer to the lawyer, calling him a “violent psychopath”; “a violent asshole”; “an idiot”; “obnoxious”; “stupid”; “a shameless, ridiculous boasting shit”; “a terrible fucking attorney”; and “a disgrace to the Colorado Bar, the Phish community, and [his] family.”
In the letter, Schielke requested that the lawyer pay Schielke’s client $50,000.00 and enter an agreement never to touch or contact the client again and to stay at least twenty-five feet away from the client at future Phish concerts. In exchange, Schielke’s client would not sue the lawyer for claims arising from the incident or contact other potential plaintiffs from the incident about joining the client’s case or litigating against the lawyer themselves. Schielke also wrote that her client would not disclose the incident to the lawyer’s undergraduate university, potentially barring the lawyer from participating in future alumni events, nor would she make a formal complaint to the lawyer’s employers. But if the lawyer declined the proposal, Schielke wrote, she would issue a press release with the complaint and an un-redacted video allegedly showing the lawyer engaged with security at the concert. In addition, her client would bring claims against the lawyer in federal district court and in Mexico as well as report the lawyer’s conduct to the local police where the incident took place.
The conduct violated Colorado Rules 4.4(a) and 4.5(a).
Fox 31 reported on the attorney’s successes in practice.
A Loveland lawyer’s pursuit of civil rights violations appears to be paying off.
Attorney Sarah Schielke of the Life and Liberty Law Office has represented clients in several high-profile civil rights cases against police, including some that have settled for big figures.
Now, Schielke is giving credit for her success. A plaque on the attorney’s new office building thanks the Loveland Police Department, “whose incompetence paid for this building.”
Her law firm web page notes a number of favorable results, particularly in cases involving allegations of police misconduct.
Her biography notes her “definitely normal preoccupation with the band Phish.”
But my favorite feature is dedicated to a one of the “team”
Michelle Kwan is the office dog. She’s really good at lots of bulldog stuff. Namely: snoring, sleeping, sunbathing and looking cute.
Michelle’s two passions are receiving compliments and eating snacks. While she has yet to actually help with anything around the office, Michelle is a very good firm mascot.
(Mike Frisch)