PC... An observation in aberrant human behavior. (And as for my own behavior - well it is what it is...) I think when I reach this point with respect to a person at work - this is when my colleagues are taken a little taken aback and sometimes use words like "cold." Actually The X used that word with me weeks before he left - so I suppose it extends to R's of all types. I give people perhaps too many chances at times - but when I am done - I am done and there is no reaching me anymore. It is the point where my empathy chip is disabled and I really just don't care. The other person can talk and talk - all I hear is white noise.
I don't know if it is good or bad - but this reaction needs to be included in my journaling.
Since I provided my commments and instructions regarding drafts of work PC had done for me - he has left 3 voice messages and 3 emails.
Each one is increasing in length. Each one is attempts to address why I am "wrong" from a different angle. (i) The Patent office guidelines are wrong so I am wrong to ask him to adhere to it; (ii) The people that drafted the application were clueless and therefore my revisions are the wrong way to approach this issue; (iii) the Examiner at the patent office is clueless therefore I am wrong in my approach; (iv) He has reviewed responses from another firm (one he knows I really like) and they do things the way he does them - so I am wrong (a lie b/c the main attorney at this firm and I talked to formulate a way to address the changes in law).
I feel like I am sitting back and simply observing from a distance to see how far PC is going to push this. This need to not give an inch. This absolute refusal to accept my authority. It really is so twisted - it is almost fascinating to watch... I can see why my boss and my boss' boss and PC's firm fired him so finally and so coldly... He must have done exactly the same thing with them...
PC inflated his bills by inflating time he spent crying on my shoulder when he was fired by his firm and removed from humongo client's list. PC billed time when he talked to my boss about transfering files from the firm that fired him to his solo practice. My boss wasted a lot of time helping him and went out of his way to do PC a favor. My boss called me to ask about the inordinate amounts of time PC billed allegedly talking to me- that is how I know. PC doesn't know I know.
So I will not be returning any phone calls. I copy my assistant at humongo client on all communications with him so I can track all communications with him. If my boss calls me to talk about time again - I will give him what he needs to blacklist PC at humongo client. I am offering no explanation b/c he will bill the time and waste my time arguing. I have no intention of paying him so I can tell him why I will not call him and paying him to argue with me.
Emailing Man is responsible for the fact that humongo client is my client. I gave PC a lot of leeway b/c he was Emailing Man's friend. I have fired other attorneys for far less. I have discussed the situation with Emailing Man and gave him the opportunity to see if he wanted to "call in a favor" from me on behalf of his "friend." Emailing Man said - under similar circumstances he would fire PC and even gave me examples of events that led to him firing outside counsel. Emailing Man is even colder than me! LOL!
I ran it by PMG. He laughed that an outside counsel would bill time for whining to someone about their pain. He said don't call him back and fire him and no need to even tell him why.
The increasing number of emails and voice mails are annoying - but in an annoying fly buzzing near your ear way.
After posting about PC for about a year now, my doubts, my hesitation - I really honestly don't even care enough to pick up the big stick. I will let him buzz till he gets tired and falls out of the air or perhaps slams into a mirror.
