Law School Turns Likable Young Man Into Unbearable A-Hole

Atlanta, Ga – Jeffrey Kinkorsa’s parents, girlfriend, and friends were very happy to hear of his acceptance to the Georgia University School of Law last spring.  However, as the semester starting date neared, his personality started to transform.  While he had once been a humble, bright, friendly, young man – he now was threatening law suits for small annoyances and becoming increasingly argumentative with friends and family.

Jeffrey’s ex-girlfriend Mary Wentworth, remembers one particular instance vividly where they made a trip to their local Blockbuster Video store to return an overdue movie.  “When the clerk told Jeffrey that he owed $12.85 in late fees for the movie, Jeffrey said he had never "explicitly" agreed to be charged any “late fees”, called it an “unconscionable contract”, and marched out of the store screaming that he would be initiating a class-action law suit.  I’m not really sure the teenage clerk knew what one was because Jeff had to explain it all to me.”  Mary recalls how this became a familiar scene almost every time they went out together: inappropriate outburst toward local merchants followed by threats of “class-action law suits”.  After Jeffery starting voicing doubts about the future of their relationship and his desire for a “trophy girlfriend”, Mary decided she had had enough and is now dating a financial advisor.

Jeffrey’s parents used to look forward to his trips home every other weekend, but now they have resorted to making excuses to not be around.  Jeff’s father recalls his most recent visit where at the family Thanksgiving dinner Jeff started giving his mother advice on how to find a good attorney and what to look for in a settlement if her and his father ever divorced.  Jeff’s father was completely taken by surprise stating, “This just came out of nowhere, he just brought this up when I mentioned in a joking manner that his mother would be the first in line to hit the malls in the morning for some Christmas shopping.”  Both Jeff’s mother and father state they have never been happier as a couple.

Jeff’s friends have also started to avoid Jeff because he is often quizzing or instructing them on legal doctrine and trivia.  Jeff’s longtime best friend Marty Richardson, a medical student says that he feels that law school has turned Jeff into an “unbearable asshole”.  Other friends have expressed that they now rarely see Jeff, and when they do it is now a very unpleasant experience.  As another long-time friend William Faircloth put it, “Ol’ Jeff used to be a real hoot.  You know, drink a few beers, get a burger, and talk to the girls at Scooter’s Sports Bar.  Everyone thought he was really fun to hang around with.  Now all he wants to do is talk about a heated exchange he had with the TV cable company about a bill or their lousy service.  If not that, he wants to bore everyone with stories about how he impressed some law teacher with some “vocal arguments” presentation.”  Jeff’s other friends have expressed similar views, and hope that he will eventually be cured of what Faircloth described as a bad case of “a-hole-itus”.

Jeff’s pastor, David Wellgood of Peachwoody Devotional Church says that he has seen other church member’s children suffer through the same affliction.  He claims it is not uncommon; and fortunately many young people eventually pull out of it and recover for the most part.  Jeff’s pastor probably summed it up best when he said, “We can only pray that Jeff returns to his former likable self, and realizes that most of his friend’s happiness for him has turned into efforts to avoid him and contempt.”