Operating Instructions
By Dan Murdock, OBA General Counsel

Recently I needed to have a couple of trees trimmed and a couple more removed because of previous storm damage. Naturally I called someone who did that type of work and was given an estimate of the cost for the work I wanted done. I then acted like some prospective clients. I thought to myself, "I can do this myself and save money." I found a chain saw at the local home and garden store and with my trusty ladder purchased when I did this once before, I was ready to proceed.

I put fuel and oil into the chain saw and knew that I could start it and be ready to go. Several pulls on the starter cord failed to start the chain saw. I tried several more times. Same thing. I then did the "unspeakable" for a "macho male". I got out the instruction book for assistance on how to start it. The book is 35 pages. Starting instructions were found on pages 28 and 29.

The earlier pages merely educated the buyer on safety issues, how to use the chain saw, how to get it ready and an explanation of all the features to use, and then, starting instructions. Maintenance information followed.

I had a goal and was ready to undertake the task. It wasn't until there was a problem that I wanted to investigate how things should be done and prepare myself properly for the task at hand. That's not unusual. I see it often in grievances that I review. Attorneys know what needs to be done and set out to do it. Sometimes however, the instructions are ignored. We think we already know what needs to be known.

We have our instructions. They are found in the Rules Governing Disciplinary Proceedings and the Oklahoma Rules of Professional Conduct. Too often though we set out to handle the task at hand before we are fully versed in our instructions.

I related the fact that I bought the chain saw and what I was doing to Cheryl Beatty, my trusted secretary and friend. She questioned my thinking and gently chastised me for starting to do something that maybe I didn't really know how to do and which might cause injury to me.

That thought will have to wait until next time and be told as Paul Harvey says, "as the rest of the story."