Johnnie Cochran to Represent Chicago Nightclub Families

CNSNEWS.com ^ | 2/21/03 | Susan Jones

[kattracks]

(CNSNews.com) - Attorney Johnnie Cochran, who successfully defended accused killer O.J. Simpson, says he is representing at least seven families who lost relatives in Sunday night's Chicago nightclub fire, and he says he doesn't care if that offends black leaders who are rallying around the nightclub's owner.

Speaking on National Public Radio's Tavis Smiley show, Cochran called the nightclub stampede a "tragedy that need not have happened." According to Cochran, "There is enough blame and enough fault to go around for everybody."

He believes the nightclub owners and the city both bear some responsibility. "There are so many things that could have been done to save these 21 lives...I think there's enough negligence all around, and I think that everybody has to be held accountable according to their deeds or misdeeds here."

Cochran admitted that suing on behalf of the families might put him at odds with the Rev. Jesse Jackson and other black leaders who are friends of the nightclub's owner. But, Cochran added, "I can't be worried about that."

Cochran told Tavis Smiley, "You have to do what's right, and I have to represent my clients to the best of my ability, and that's the way it has to be. I just want to make sure that those who are responsible are held responsible. I don't care about who they are or their titles, we have to do what we've gotta do. You have to continue to enforce the law equally. We have to learn that you cannot flout the law. Nobody is above the law. There's got to be equal justice for everybody."

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

WILL HE name jesse jackson as a defendant!

[kattracks]

ping

[cricket]

Wonder who Jesse will hire for his defense. . .

[angkor]

Cochran has recently been running TV ads with an 800- number for his new ambulance-chasing outfit, called The Cochran Group.

[OldSmaj]

Cochran told Tavis Smiley,..."There's got to be equal justice for everybody."

Then why, Mr. Cochran, do you lie, obfuscate, race-bait and inflame the passions of good people in order to gain that "equal justice"?

You, Mr. Cochran, are a leech, a worm, a lowlife, ambulance chaser and a poster boy for all that is wrong with the legal profession today.

You make me sick.

[freekitty]

Well, he certainally got there fast.

[dennisw]

He's gonna be suing .........

He says both but it will really be just the racist city of Chicago with it's deep racist pockets. (/sarcasm)

[rooster1]

Going through boot camp at Parris Island in 1965, we were constantly told we were the lowest form of life on earth. Nothing was lower than a Marine recruit. With Cochran, and many of his ilk, I wonder if the Corps has changed that. Surely a Marine Corps boot is above lawyers.

Semper Fi

[verity]

he says he doesn't care if that offends black leaders who are rallying around the nightclub's owner.

What is the color of money?

[Wolfie]

Great reporting. It wasn't a fire.

[robjna]

My first reaction, althoguh cynical, was that the families will be looking for a payday, and when they discover there isn't enough from the owners, they will go after the city for not enforcing the shutdown of the facilty. Deeper pockets.

[ArcLight]

At the risk of being lynched, I must say that I like and admire Johnny Cochran. I know OJ did it, and love to mock my relatives who insist the guy's innocent and the white folks tried to frame him. That said, Cochran is a defense attorney, and a darn good one. He did his job superbly, while the cops and prosecutors fumbled, dithered and occasionally lied under oath. I hate the fact that OJ is walking free, but I love the job that Cochran did getting him off.

[berserker]

Link to pdf format of lawsuit filed against club owners by Cochran firm - and yes, they did include the City of Chicago as a defendant.

[dennisw]

I hate the fact that OJ is walking free, but I love the job that Cochran did getting him off.

Sorry but that's pathetic. Cochran trashed normal court procedure and conduct to achieve his goal. He changed the trial from a murder trial into a trial of "white racism", real, alleged and fraudulent. In the process of winning he made people more cynical, about our system of justice. White people were not impressed.

[mt tom]

just think he will be up against the largest racist organization in the U.S. the shitcago DNC machine

[robjna]

told you so. how did i know!!!!!!!