Posted on 12/09/2002 7:42:13 AM PST by sfwarrior
This applies to all the lawyers in the state. When I first started practicing, I used to take pro bono cases from the local legal services clinic, but gave that up because I quickly learned that the people who pay the least, expect the most. Now I give my time to not-for-profit organizations rather than to individuals.
True story: I was once assigned a landlord/tenant case regarding the return of an $800 security deposit. I sent several letters to the landlord, and to then to the landlord's attorney, but she was not going to return the deposit, leaving me no choice, but to bring on a lawsuit in landlord/tenant court. By this time, I had already given about $400 worth of free time and told the client that the case would probably cost another $2000 in my time, and that we should try to settle because the landlord has some legitimate defenses to the claim. He refused because he wasn't paying for my time. I then offered to give him the entire $800 out of my pocket because that was less than half the cost of litigating and why should I have to give away $2000 or more in free legal services when I can write the client a check for $800 and be done with it. The client refused my offer because in his words, he wanted "justice." So we went to trial, and the entire dispute from begining to end cost nearly $3000 in my time, and when we lost the case, the client filed a claim against me with the grievance committee claiming that I was incompetent.
Waitaminute. This PUBLIC library has a cat? Well, heck's bells, I'm being denied equal access to the tax-supported library due to their deliberate contamination of its atmosphere with cat dander. I want to file suit!
Nevermind that I'm a citizen of Michigan and have only once visited Escondido...I want my money! (/sarcasm)
Roper: So now you'd give the Devil benefit of law!
More: Yes. What would you do? Cut a great road through the law to get after the Devil?
Roper: I'd cut down every law in England to do that!
More: Oh? And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned round on you - where would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat? This country's planted thick with laws from coast to coast - man's laws, not God's - and if you cut them down - and you're just the man to do it - d'you really think you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then? Yes, I'd give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety's sake.
You may remember him from Clinton/Algore's press conference with the Dem's just after Slick was impeached.
Doggett was in back trying to get his face on camera.
Yes, this self-made man is #31 on the list of Congress's richest members:
Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) - $4.5 million.Doggett's fortune continues its steady climb, from $4 million in 1994 to $4.5 million in 1995, and now more than $4.6 million, according to his 1996 disclosure forms. In his pre-Congress years, Doggett built a lucrative law practice in Austin on big product liability cases.
Well Good Grief! It is true -- no good deed goes unpunished.
Sounds like your client had a bad case of the gimmees. What can we do to stop this abuse of the legal system? It seems that, if the attorney deems the case unwinnable, and the client insists on going forward with the case, the client should bear some financial responsibility.
For the client, this was a "no lose" situation -- if he won, he got the money, if he lost, it cost him nothing, and he could try to sue again (if someone were to take the case against you). This certainly isn't fair to either the attorney or the paying customers who have to wait their turn while cases like this are heard.
Sounds like this guy's a real peach. I don't suppose it would be possible to beat him -- unless you found another rich scumbag with nothing to do but run for Congress.
One thing that gives guys like this the fits -- tort reform law. Specifically, legislation limiting the amount that can be collected by lawyers in class action suits.
If he was only allowed to collect $100,000 above and beyond his legitimate expenses, he'd be out of business.
He's from Austin - the Berkeley of Texas - and they think he's "one of the people." The same kind of folks who mindlessly cheer Erin Brockovich.
Yep tort reform would seriously damage him and his type.
On a related note, for anyone else that knows:
I remember back when lawyers weren't allowed by the bar to do tv ads. When they changed that, the caveat was the ads were to be dignified and befitting the dignity of the profession.
Looking at the ambulance chasing commercials we see here, I wonder whatever happened to that requirement?
Or is it the same old problem of trying to find a lawyer who'll sue a lawyer?
And now they taste like crap, causing me pain and mental anguish. Can I sue you?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.