Greedy Trial Lawyers

FrontPageMagazine.com ^ | August 26, 2002 | Henry Mark Holzer

[PhilDragoo]

The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers.

King Henry VI, Part II, Act IV, Scene ii, Line 86.

Or, in the alternative, enact sensible tort reform. Not as much fun, but effective nonetheless.

[ConsistentLibertarian]

What has Front Page Magazine got against the profit motive? They're not pinko-let's-regulate-the-market commies are they?

[Savage Beast]

"If successful, these unelected and unaccountable lawyers will raise healthcare costs to the point where millions of Americans and their employers may find themselves priced out of the system."

Millions are already priced out of the system.

[Fast 1975]

The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers.

Add a few more to share the blame- The judiciary and legislature who have destroyed common law and provided a basis for these lawsuits to exist in the first place. The juries who hand these judgments on a silver platter, and of course the plaintiffs themselves who hire a lawyer to seek compensation for their own failures.

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

It's time to start heating up the tar and plucking the geese. We need a good a thorough cleansing in this nation. Purge the commies.

[wardaddy]

Amen.....make losers(if they initiated) pay court costs and set limits. It's really simple...in theory at least.

[Savage Beast]

"By passing a reasonable tort reform act, Congress can put the healthcare interests of America's patients before the political agenda and financial interests of personal injury lawyers."

By passing a reasonable tort reform act, Congress can make health care universally affordable.

[ErnBatavia]

Most legal experts believe the lawyers' goal of creating what may well be the largest class-action lawsuit in history is a real long shot.

Duh! They ALL know that, but can stir up a whole bunch of fees while the dust settles....we must all remember the axiom: ATTORNEYS ARE THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL.

Think about it, and you'll have to agree with me on this one, Freepers!

[ErnBatavia]

Amen!

[wardaddy]

Right.....during the tobbaco suits, if the lawyers were stopped in the courts...they simply went to the state AGs or legislatures and had the statutes amended.

Mississippi and their publicity hound parasite AG are the poster child for this garbage.

BUT....even Mississippi is hearing rumblings of tort reform. Insurers and doctors are leading the charge.....and to a degree....the media is on board locally.

I must confess that one of my closest life long pals is one of the guiltiest of this gang of extortionist in my home state. We recently had dinner while I was there and he confessed that the goose may have laid her last golden egg.

[2banana]

The trail lawyers are by far the #1 money contributers of the DEMOCRAT party

[ConsistentLibertarian]

"The judiciary and legislature who have destroyed common law and provided a basis for these lawsuits to exist in the first place." HMO's are PROTECTED from lawsuits by LEGISLATION, not common law.

[ConsistentLibertarian]

Maybe that's because they think Republicans are bad for their business?

[Temple Owl]

The juries who hand these judgments on a silver platter

I think the jury system used to work, but I am now having serious doubts. On the criminal side, we have OJ walking and on the tort side we have juries awarding millions to stupid people who spill hot coffee on them selves.

My vote goes to kill the lawyers.

[ConsistentLibertarian]

"ATTORNEYS ARE THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL". So if we get tort reform we won't have to invade Iraq?

[ConsistentLibertarian]

Given the evidence you cite, I thought your vote would be for killing anyone with a low IQ. Sort of like Pol Pot in reverse? Round up everyone without a 4 year degree from an AAU University, maybe throw in people with Sociology, Education, Music and Dance degrees for good measure? I don't know. Sounds drastic.

[ConsistentLibertarian]

"I think the jury system used to work". Trouble is you get people on juries who infer "lawyers are evil" from the premise "jurors are stupid". I mean, you probably think you'd make a fine juror, don't you? They all do.

[MarkL]

"If successful, these unelected and unaccountable lawyers will raise healthcare costs to the point where millions of Americans and their employers may find themselves priced out of the system."

Millions are already priced out of the system.

I'm getting there. Since I first got health insurance (self insured), my rates have gone up by at least 12% a year, even in those years where I didn't even see a doctor or have a claim. After I had my back surgery, my rates went up by 28%. I've had to change my coverage. Last year, my insurance premiums were greater than my home mortgage payments, and this year had skyrocketed to $1670 a quarter. I've raised my deductable to $3500, so my premiums are now a much more reasonable $915 a quarter. Still, in another 3 years, the premiums will probably be back to where it's the second highest cost of living for me, after taxes.

Mark

[ConsistentLibertarian]

There's a much better system along the same lines: After a decision has been reached in a civil suit both parties are required to disclose settlement offers made and rejected. You compare what people were willing to pay or accept to the damages awarded and if the winner turned a settlement offer for an amount greater than the damages awarded, the winner pays costs, otherwise the loser does. It encourages reasonable settlements.

[lawdude]

"Duh! They ALL know that, but can stir up a whole bunch of fees while the dust settles....we must all remember the axiom: ATTORNEYS ARE THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL."

I think about it a lot, and disagree! I think people, like you, who are willing to place blanket blame without so much as a rational thought ARE THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL.

I am an Attorney, a darn good attorney, and pride myself on my ethics. I'm not perfect (as you seem to believe you are) but I do work within the ethical rules of my state.

I am willing to bet you work in a profession that can boast as many sleaze balls as mine. Difference is, we deal with our bad apples.

Now, just what proud line of work do you represent?