Machiavelli Applied: If your opponent is of choleric temper, Irritate him.” A few months ago, I had to defend a client at an administrative hearing. It was about the same time that the new Taxi regulations kicked in and DCRA was swamped with Eritrean and Ethiopian drivers seeking to be in compliance with the new reg. I made a comment to the hearing officer about all the Habeshas floating around and the Hearing Officer said “Yes, there’s too many Ethiopians today...” I’d seen this attitude of naked discrimination in DC’s licensing offices before.. it’s almost understandable. These guys are killing themselves at an understaffed office for a meager government salary, while processing forms for millionaires that can’t speak English. My client, in true Habesha fashion, showed up late to his own damned hearing. I waited just outside the door to eavesdrop and could just barely make what the hearing officer and her supervisor were saying; “Ethiopian.” During the hearing, despite my rage at the discrimination, I forced a demeanor of outward calm and instead of focusing my arguments on the facts at hand, sought to worsen the officer’s irritation. After a while, I noticed her left eye beginning to twitch. *BINGO* I let her know that it was “perfectly acceptable if you want to take a few minutes to get back in possession of yourself. You appear to be exhibiting physiological symptoms that indicate that you’re under extreme stress – your pulse is quickened, your hands are shaking, and your eyes are watering and turning red.” This, of course, only worsened her irritation. She finally flew into a rage, abruptly announced that the hearing was over, and began pushing us out the door. I’d left a document on the desk, and sought to retrieve it when she slammed the door on us with my arm caught in it. It didnt hurt, but God help me I screamed like a footballer during World Cup. Afterwards, I took her supervisor aside and assured him that the last thing he wanted was for this matter to continue and for any of your employee’s actions here to come to light. I also let him know that I’d heard about the “Ethiopians” quip and that I was considering suing the city in my personal capacity for the battery. Case Dismissed.
Posted on: Sat, 09 Aug 2014 14:14:22 +0000
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