Guilty! The Case Against Trial Lawyers

SF Gate (Chronicle) ^ | December 9th, 2002 | Adam Sparks

[Ditto]

Trial lawyers are capitalists....

They are supposed to be officers of the court, not business men. But for some reason, we hold business men to higher ethical standards than we do officers of the court.

[BikerNYC]

No we don't.

[Labyrinthos]

Ever heard of bar associations? Attorneys get disbarred all the time. Laws outside of the professional guild's influence also affect lawyers.

We are also the only profession that is required by law in most states to give our time free of charge to the indigent. When I was in law school, that was called taking property without just compensation. The state calls it a condition of abtaining a license to practice.

[Amore]

"Ever heard of bar associations? Attorneys get disbarred all the time."

Lawyers don't get disbarred for what we are discussing here, things like bringing frivolous lawsuits. Who runs bar associations? The lawyers. No bar association I've ever seen disciplines lawyers for filing lawsuits.

Here in Florida, for instance, you only get disbarred for comingling trust funds, or if you screw up big time and totally neglect clients' cases so that they get thrown out of court, or maybe if you get caught and convicted of a serious crime. The people bringing frivolous lawsuits are in fact the ones in control and in management positions in the bar association.

[Oberon]

Oh, please. Trial lawyers are utilizing laws that are currently in place. If anyone is to blame it's politicians who won't change the laws, judges who let cases go forward, and juries who actually award the damages. Trial lawyers are capitalists...they are using the current system to their best possible lawfuul advantage, just like any person in business would. Are corporate taxpayers "greedy" when they use every possible legal loophole to avoid paying as much taxes as they can?

I might point out that judges are former lawyers, as are the majority of legislators. As if that wasn't enough, the trial lawyer lobby is notorious for its power, money, and access. As for juries, they're deliberately and routinely selected for stupidity during voir dire.

[Ditto]

No we don't.

Well then, when will the trial lawyers refund the money they got for the silicon breast implant cases? We now know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they had a "defective" argument and that those implants harmed no one. Doesn't a business that sells defective products owe refunds even if they did not know it was defective at the time?

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

Attorneys get disbarred all the time.

And in one of the most shamefull displays of the legal system working, after blantant lies under oath, Bill (The Slick One) Clinton is still a lawyer...

See how wonderful the system is!

[Ditto]

We are also the only profession that is required by law in most states to give our time free of charge to the indigent.

How many "professions" have an exclusive charter, (monopoly) in dealing with government agencies?

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

99.9% of the lawyers give all of them a bad name.

LOL!!!! Good one!

[BJungNan]

The lawyer jokes were created as a peaceful outlet to vent the extreme frustration many Americans feel about a system that's rigged to benefit lawyers at the expense of citizens.

No they weren't. From the first lawyer joke every told, we meant every word.

[D-fendr]

Yes they did, under Gov. Bush.

It's still under attack and needs to go further. Anyone whose moved here and gotten auto insurance can attest.

You are right though, this is a state issue. My point was the state legislators who carry water for (and often are) trial lawyers.

Some of the law firms who got richest off the tobacco suits are in Texas and they still have great political power. It's an ongoing battle.

"Personal injury" lawyers are a huge industry here - and among the biggest advertisers on tv, in partnership with clinics. Anyone else familiar with K-Clinic?

[paltz]

Why don't judges just throw out these ridiculous cases? Follow the money. Trial lawyers like to curry favor with judges, and they do so generously. One study conducted by the Illinois Lawsuit Abuse Watch finds that the personal-injury bar contributed more than 75 percent of the roughly $800,000 given to Madison County, Ill., judges' political campaigns over the last two decades.

GO after the corrupt judges!

[Labyrinthos]

Rather than blaming lawyers for the entire problem, you ought to be blaming the plaintiffs who commence the lawsuits in the first place. Exercise a little personal responsibility, and when you see that bill board or full page ad in the yellow pages that promises riches for a broken toe nail, just say "NO". Remember, no matter how much you think that your desire to sue is contolled by genetics or some addictive chemical that is secretly pumped into the air and water by greedy, democrap controlled trial lawyers, you can break the cycle of litigation by simply exercising a bit of personal restraint. Remember, lawyers don't sue people, people sue people.

[BikerNYC]

We now know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they had a "defective" argument and that those implants harmed no one.

You should get the money from those who gave it away. Go after the jurors.

[paltz]

Kill all the lawyers!
-Shakespeare

[reformed_democrat]

Thanks for the information, D-fendr. I was not aware of this enterprising individual.

Could you give us his name? I'm always curious about the history of a "self-made" man.

[BikerNYC]

...the trial lawyer lobby is notorious for its power, money, and access.

So, what do you want, a campaign finance overhall that limits contributions?

[reformed_democrat]

Ever heard of bar associations?

Of course. I worked my way through college as a cocktail waitress.

Attorneys get disbarred all the time.

Some do, some don't.
Bill Clinton would be a shining example of those who don't.

[ampat]

Spoken like a true lawyer

[Oberon]

So, what do you want, a campaign finance overhall that limits contributions?

I don't think there's a cure for this disease, let alone a cure that our governing bodies could find acceptable to implement. I suspect we're stuck with it.