Judge Hugh Lawson, who served in the Middle District of Georgia, passed away recently at the age of 82. Renowned for his sharp wit, Judge Lawson once authored an unforgettable complaint letter, penned during his time as a state judge prior to his designation to the federal bench by President Bill Clinton. This letter was addressed to Wiles Manufacturing to express his dissatisfaction with their product, a portable toilet, or “Kamperjon,” as referred to in the letter.
The complaint, in no uncertain terms, detailed a rather unfortunate encounter one of Lawson’s companions had with the portable toilet. In the letter, Lawson narrates how his friend, Fred V. Joiner, ended up sitting in his own excrement when the Kamperjon gave way without prior warning.
The full letter, as posted by Greg Bluestein of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, paints a vivid, albeit somewhat unsavory, picture of the incident, one that truly embodies the dry and unique humor for which Judge Lawson was known.
It’s worth mentioning that the humor of Judge Lawson was extended to his own passing. His self-authored obituary includes instructions that anyone who wrote that his memory would be ‘forever treasured’ should be taken out and shot, clearly demonstrating his disdain for cliched expressions often encountered in such tributes.
This mishap will undoubtedly serve as a reminder for legal professionals to not take themselves too seriously and maybe, just maybe, bring a little humor into their own dealings with product manufacturers.