Tuesday's Best Shots
 
Lawyers Gone Wild
Hillary Clinton and five other senators who since 1999 opposed every major proposal to curb lawsuit abuse were among the most frequent recipients of campaign contributions from partners at the disgraced class-action firm Milberg Weiss, according to data analyzed by The Examiner.

Thirteen votes on lawsuit abuse reform proposals previously identified by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) were analyzed by The Examiner. Twelve senators voted for none and 13 voted for just one. Three of those casting one vote for reform were among the lawmakers who received the most donations from Milberg Weiss.   Read More

Weiss pleads guilty; Clinton silent

Pioneering securities class-action lawyer Melvyn Weiss agreed yesterday to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy in the Justice Department’s prosecution of the New York firm that carried his name for many years.

Weiss thus became the fourth named partner in the firm to plead guilty in the past year to participating in an $11.7 million kickback scheme government prosecutors said began in 1979 and resulted in more than $200 million in tainted legal fees in an estimated 150 cases filed by the firm.   Read More

 
About this series: This is a continuing editorial commentary series of special reports on liability lawsuit abuse in America. The series will examine the costs, the leading personalities and their tactics, and the consequences of the litigation explosion that many experts contend is crippling American enterprise.

Series Index:
Sept. 14 - Is there a doctor in the house ... who hasn't been sued? Sept. 21 - Buying political power and friends in high places Sept. 28 - How they do it Oct. 5 - The gavel falls on super-lawyers
Oct. 12 - Heads I win, tails you lose



Stories on Examiner.com that mention "Frivolous Lawsuits"
Todd D. Lamb: One small act of devotion
What have you done for your country? How have you served the nation? With Memorial Day upon us, those can be daunting questions when compared with the service that our men and women in the military perform and the sacrifices they have made for us.
Dan Popeo: Legal profession must clean its own house
Some of America's most experienced, powerful, and successful lawyers are now behind bars, or soon will be, giving new meaning to the phrase "Jailhouse
Dan Popeo: The American legal profession must clean its own house
Some of America’s most experienced, powerful, and successful lawyers are now behind bars, or soon will be, giving new meaning to the phrase “jailhouse lawyers.” Consider the more recent inductees into the lawyers’ hall of shame.
False ‘reform’ for False Claims Act
W ill Republicans in Congress never learn that backing legislation to expand litigation opportunities for the class action plaintiffs ‘bar simply pours money into the Democrats’ campaign coffers? The question arises yet again because of the bill recently moved forward by the Senate Judiciary Committee to amend the False Claims Act. The proposal would encourage even more frivolous lawsuits by profiteering class action plaintiffs’ lawyers, while hurting the small and medium-size businesses and contractors that are the job-creating backbone of the economy. The bill’s main sponsor is Iowa Republican Sen. Charles Grassley. A second powerful GOP patron is Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania. Knowing a great opportunity to weaken Republicans when they see it, liberal Democratic Sens. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Richard Durbin of Illinois and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island are co-sponsors.
Dr. Ron Elfenbein: Curb lawsuit abuse to compete for doctors
According to most national polls, access to affordable health care is among the very top concerns for most voters. A recent study from the Maryland Hospital Association and MedChi (Maryland’s state medical society) suggests that Marylanders ought to be particularly worried. The study found that Maryland has 16 percent fewer practicing physicians per capita than the national average, and this doctor shortage is expected to become severe over the next five to 10 years.
Todd Dallas Lamb: ‘Judicial Hellhole’ in the making?
In December, the American Tort Reform Association released its annual report on the biggest “Judicial Hellholes” around the country, naming Baltimore as an “area to watch.” Personal injury lawyers seek out these places because they know they will produce a positive outcome — an excessive verdict or settlement, or a favorable precedent.
Shooting, scandals and suits from 2007
Andrew Harnik/Examiner Gunman murders 32 at Virginia Tech
Editorial: Judicial hellholes mock our legal system
The news is decidedly mixed regarding the nation’s most notorious “judicial hellholes” — described by the American Tort Reform Association as the worst jurisdictions in which to get sued. On one hand, the watchdog group downgraded Madison County, Ill. — once the nation’s top venue for questionable class-action lawsuits — after a series of reforms sparked by public outrage greatly reduced court shopping there.
ATRA’s ‘judicial hellholes’ mock our legal system
The news is decidedly mixed regarding the nation’s most notorious “judicial hellholes” — described by the American Tort Reform Association as the worst jurisdictions in which to get sued. On one hand, the watchdog group downgraded Madison County, Ill. — once the nation’s top venue for questionable class-action lawsuits — after a series of reforms sparked by public outrage greatly reduced court shopping there. Unfortunately, two more judicial hellholes — in Clark County, Nev., and Atlantic County, N.J. -- have stepped in to take its place. These developments were spotlighted yesterday as ATRA released the 2007 edition of its memorably titled compilation.
Daniel J. Popeo: Respect the intentions of Rockefeller, Carnegie
As Americans ponder their year-end gifts, they should consider the charitable giving of some famous philanthropists like Henry Ford, Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller and John D. MacArthur.
Latest Examiner Comments on This Series
* Share your thoughts on any article. Just click "Post Your Comments" at the top of a story. Your comments appear immediately for all to read.
RE: "Strongest lawsuit abuse reform opponents in Senate received the most Milberg Weiss cash" (11:40 AM MST)

Examiner Reader said, "Greed is a Disability of the Soul (ref. Matthew 4:1-11). ..." (More)
RE: "Democratic rivals mum on firm’s dirty cash" (6:10 AM MST)

Joe said, "Hillary Clinton is only honest when she gets caught, and then, not always. ..." (More)
RE: "Just the threat of a lawsuit can be worth millions" (8:16 PM MST)

Examiner Reader said, "My attorney did not to help my case against a city in RI, no investigation, no interviews, no discovery.How do I sue him for not doing the job I hired him to do? Swansong ..." (More)
RE: "Lawyers use campaign cash to buy friends in high places" (1:46 PM MST)

Examiner Reader said, "(2) Re: Proposed Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (2007). What has and is happening is that for no reason, the proved Legal U.S. Citizens and Legal Immigrants, have been devalued and practically encaged to fight the powerful in a timely manner, then they get labeled with some sort of imposed “disability” wit ..." (More)
RE: "Lawyers use campaign cash to buy friends in high places" (1:43 PM MST)

Examiner Reader said, "(1) Re: Proposed Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2007. This Act is necessary to protect employees/workers against corruption, including identity-theft and fraud, obstruction of justice, fear of retaliation and intimidation by their employers. These proved discriminatory factors, over the years, have t ..." (More)
RE: "Is there a doctor in the house ... who hasn’t been sued?" (5:20 PM MST)

Examiner Reader said, "I practiced law for 32 years, did a lot of very successful tort work, but never even dreamed of such goings-on. The big change came when the US S. Ct. authorized lawyers to advertise. If you look at the litigation records, you will see that the current situation grew directly out of lawyers advertis ..." (More)
RE: "Liability lawyers offer corporate America a deal it can’t refuse" (8:43 AM MST)

Examiner Reader said, "Excellent, If this case is won, many cases on Monopolies under the guise of one company should be able to be heard for fraudulent embezzling financial records! Constipation Energy and BGE, as a start. ..." (More)
RE: "Liability lawyers offer corporate America a deal it can’t refuse" (3:00 PM MST)

Examiner Reader said, "Next time some toxic chemical is released and innocent people are hurt, we can all expect the chemical companies and the insurance carriers to self-regulate and help the injured, right? I think weighing insurance company profits against those of trial attorneys may show who actually profits here. ..." (More)
RE: "Is there a doctor in the house ... who hasn’t been sued?" (5:23 PM MST)

Revilo said, "We need to change the law to allow defendants to counter-sue the plaintiff's attorneys for mental anguish, suffering and financial loss incurred when, in the judgment of a jury, the suit was unreasonable. Defendants should be entitled to punitive damages as well. Give them a dose of their own medic ..." (More)
 
 

(page generated in 0.13 seconds)