While it is nice to suggest that attorneys serve a noble purpose, the decision to represent a client on a contingecy basis is ultimately a business decision. In other words, experienced attorneys will only take the “winner” cases.

The attorneys who take cases on a matter of principle are either freshly minted or independently wealthy (or perhaps a touch crazy).

This means that plaintiffs with scant financial resources are not able to buy the same level of “justice” as their wealthy counterparts.

Interesting that anyone with a house to sell will find an agent to represent them.

As I see it, agents represent all types of buyers, sellers, castles and heaps.

If the attorneys (politicians and corporations who are run and owned by people and live in houses) are able to reduce the amount of commisions realtors can charge, don’t be surprised to see the foreclosure rate sky rocket because the lower income individuals with lower priced homes will be unable to find someone to represent them.

Sounds like the beginning of a new type of class action suit. Any takers?

You’re right, not every trail lawyer is just out for the money and not every Realtor is a used car salesman. Many plaintiff’s attorneys (most, I think) care deeply about the people they are representing.

I still think that some of these fees are exorbitant. My husband, a lawyer, agrees. Of course they take a risk when they take on a client who may or may not receive an award. That’s why they evaluate carefully the merits of the case before they take it on. Real estate brokers also work “for free” until there is a resolution (i.e. a closing). We often put hours and hours plus many dollars into marketing properties or driving around buyers, which sometimes doesn’t culminate in much more than a “thanks.”

You might want to consider who is awarding those damages. The lawyers don’t award them, it is the jury and thus, the general population.

Also, the reason many trial lawyers charge contigency 40%, or whatever you quoted, is because theyhave to front the money for the cases, and when they lose they lose everything. You see, your Joe Blow, whose life was ruined, usually doesn’t have the money to pay the lawyer by the hour. Lawyers have to take the risk themselves.

If it wasn’t for them, Joe Blow’s life would be ruined and he would receive nothing…ZERO…whith out the lawyer.

I am not saying all plaintiff’s attorneys are great people, but it is hardly fair to talk badly about an entire sector of society. At the vary least, be fair, and give both sides.

By the way, the reason the legislators are trying to cap those fees, is because corporations are sinking huge amounts of money into state lobbyists. You may change your tune when something happens to you because of corporate negligence and you are not entitled to enough money to take care of you and your family.

Most of the plaintiff’s lawyers I know got into to help the underdog and then they get trashed to hell for it. If they only cared about the cash…they would have gone corporate.

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Great rant!
kk

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