U.S. Chamber of Commerce celebrates 'branding' trial lawyers

[flashl]

U.S. battle over business lawsuits goes on

"It took guts, bravery and vision to get behind what must have seemed like an insurmountable task - taking on the powerful trial bar," said Donohue, the chief executive of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. "We have succeeded beyond our expectations."

There were plenty of reasons for self-congratulation at the dinner, held this month to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the chamber's Institute for Legal Reform. Some of the best-known plaintiff-side lawyers in the United States - Richard Scruggs, Melvyn Weiss and William Lerach - have all pleaded guilty to charges that they tried to manipulate the justice system.

The very phrase "trial lawyer" has become associated with unadulterated greed; the Association of Trial Lawyers of America now calls itself the American Association for Justice.

But it is still too early to declare an end to the so-called tort wars, a decades-old conflict over the rules governing civil lawsuits. Corporate interests have won several potent victories, but trial lawyers continue to try to undo legislation restricting litigation and are pursuing new strategies of their own.

IHT

[Wapsie B]

1. So none of these Chamber of Commerce folks have any of these evil lawyers on retainer?

:eyes:

It's going to take the same kind of guts, bravery and vision to put the C of C in its place. I dream of that day, along with the stripping corporations of the rights of personhood.

[flashl]

2. The C of C must have the 'good' lawyers described in the scenario below ...

In a Washington ballroom bedecked with flags honoring explorers who overcame oceans and mountains to pursue international trade, Thomas Donohue was congratulating the assembled modern merchants - a group of executives, lobbyists and lawyers - for challenging a more mundane adversary.

[Karl_Bonner_1982]

3. "Greedy" trial lawyers, "greedy" bureaucrats, "greedy" unions, "greedy" welfare recipients

Blame greed on everyone except big business and Wall Street. Typical conservative pot-and-kettle irony.