Lawyer, Lawyer, Pants On Fire
There is a long-standing belief that many tall tales and proverbs are rooted in an actual event or circumstance. While we can’t imagine a time when this particular situation actually occurred, it may not hurt to be leery of the old playground taunt, “liar, liar, pants on fire.”
In what is perhaps the most literal translation of the phrase, a Miami defense attorney’s closing arguments to the jury went up in smoke when his right pants pocket caught fire. Alas, the irony continues: Stephen Gutierrez was defending his client against felony arson charges.
As Gutierrez argued that his client’s car spontaneously combusted and was not intentionally set aflame, he absentmindedly fiddled with an e-cigarette in his pocket when its battery unexpectedly faulted (or so he claims) and ignited. Certainly befuddled by the rising temperature, and obviously alarmed by the fire emanating from his pocket, he fled the courtroom in search of the nearest restroom to extinguish the blaze.
Stunned spectators and jurors were ushered out of the courtroom as a precaution. Upon his return, an unharmed Gutierrez insisted the scene was not a staged defense demonstration gone wrong. His antics do not appear to have aided his trial record as his client was ultimately convicted of second-degree arson, and Gutierrez himself faced the possibility of being held in contempt of court.
Just as with any tale, this story has its happy ending. Gutierrez recognized the danger of his habit and has sworn off smoking — both the cigarette and trouser varieties.
