Greedy Trial Lawyer
Greedy Trial Lawyer For Justice
Category: In Your Face
I want to be clear - I will remain Greedy Trial Lawyer despite the decision of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA) to change its name to the American Association for Justice. I do not object to ATLA's decision. It does reflect the aspirations of its members. However, as an op-ed piece in the New York Times notes, since the tort system does marshal the entrepreneurial energies of the bar - I will continue on my greedy way to obtain the best results for each victim of misconduct.
IF a rose would smell as sweet by any other name, will trial lawyers smell better with a new one? That's the question posed by the impending self-reinvention of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America [ATLA]. After Election Day, the 65,000-member outfit whose lawyers brought us multibillion dollar settlements in cigarette cases, millions of asbestos injury claims and lawsuits over McDonald's coffee will change its name to the American Association for Justice.[The history of the name changes of ATLA is then outlined.]
The problem for the lawyers is that the genius of the tort system -- its capacity to marshal the entrepreneurial energies of the bar -- is also its greatest public relations liability. Indeed, whether trial lawyers are part of a distinctively American regulatory solution or part of a distinctively American problem, the new name seems unlikely to change the way Americans view them.
At KFC (né Kentucky Fried Chicken), the chicken is still fried. At Altria (né Philip Morris), the cigarettes still cause cancer. And at the American Association for Justice, some will say that the trial lawyers are still chasing ambulances.
And, some will say that the tort reformers are still screwing victims in the quest for higher corporate profits.
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