Criminal Charges Levied Against Big Tort Law Firm

The New York Sun ^ | May 19, 2006 | JOSH GERSTEIN - Staff Reporter of the Sun

[Red Badger]

Yes, and eventually it will, and is, morphing into a court of men and their feelings..........

[mountainfolk]

That may be your opinion,or your ACLU experience, but I have not found that to be a fact. The lawyers I know are hard working individuals, self employed and dedicated to their clients. Those I am related to would rather pay off their college loans than buy a $3,000 suit. You have been watching too much TV where lawyer shows concentrate on a fantasy life which makes for good entertainment but whose characters would be in an asylum or jail in real life.

[synbad600]

Wasn't it Kissinger who said "Too bad both sides can't lose"?

[snowrip]

AWESOME link to a great piece of news...

That story was dated 5/7/03... waht became of the investigation?

[mewzilla]

Hope someone checks out political donations from folks in that firm. A quick run through shows Dems getting some pretty big bucks.

[Deaf Smith]

"How can you indict a firm? "

You'll find that a lot of law firms are LLP's and thus why you always hear of them being a partner. You just don't hear of these guys being a corporation too often.

I'll bet that some other Freeper Lawyers could enlighten us on the advantages of being a LLP for covering their a**.

[Red Badger]

LLP? Liar Liar Pants on fire?.......

[Deaf Smith]

That was a different movie.

[Red Badger]

Lawyers is as lawyers does.........

[blau993]

You can indict a corporation or an LLP -- the corporate form makes no difference. There is considerable reluctance of prosecutors to do so, because inevitably a lot of innocent people will see their jobs and pensions disappear. Case in point -- Arthur Anderson, indicted over destruction of Enron audit files, convicted, but eventually cleared of charges by the Supreme Court. Anderson folded almost overnight following the indictment, and a lot of honest, talented people who had nothing at all to do with its work for Enron were unemployed.

In this case, the indictment follows refusal of Milberg Weiss to cooperate with the investigation by waiving attorney-client privilege and providing documents. The firm will say it is between a rock and a hard place -- it has to respect the privilege which is owned by its clients, not the firm. The prosecutor will say Milberg is hiding behind the privilege.

One thing you can bet on is that Milberg Weiss will be a hollow shell within a month. Its lawyers will jump ship to other firms, and it will fold up its operations.

[blau993]

By the way, the headline writer for this thread has it wrong. Milberg Weiss represents plaintiffs, but not plaintiffs in tort (accident) cases. They represent plaintiffs in securities class actions. They have been hugely successful. i believe they represented the plaintiffs in more than half of the securities class actions settled nationwide last year.

[Sarastro]

I'll bet that some other Freeper Lawyers could enlighten us on the advantages of being a LLP for covering their a**.

A Limited Liability Partnership protects innocent partners from personal liability arising from acts of the firm, but permits the firm to be taxed as a partnership rather than a corporation. Some states' LLP statutes provide more protection than others, so the level of protection depends on the state in which the firm is registered as an LLP.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Sounds like Edwards is the candidate for the trial lawyers...

[E. Pluribus Unum]

"This plays into the hands of political demagogues who like to rail against trial lawyers as if they were responsible for all the miseries of society."

Projection, pure and simple.

[Grampa Dave]

Trial Lawyers of the DNC er America love their rat pack fellow lawyers, and they support these anti America liberals.

[Grampa Dave]

"One thing you can bet on is that Milberg Weiss will be a hollow shell within a month. Its lawyers will jump ship to other firms, and it will fold up its operations."


Amazing how this works.