So sue me
So sue me
Hi valvers
My best advice to all of you planning litigation of one sort or another is to beware what you say to anyone who is not your attorney about your case! even spouses, parents, neighbors. Don't discuss your case over lunch at the mall or anywhere in public. I think Nancy hit it on the head. Some law clerk surfing the net sees Lisa's post and goes "hmmmmm, gotcha" then you have divulged pertinent info.
I am not sure, Lisa, what you suing over. If it's fen-phen or redux my advice is to watch out. There are so many class actions going on the plaintiffs' counsel are singing up anyone and then when the payout comes the lawyers take their two-thirds and you victims get stuck with the chump change. Unfortunately, I think once the class is approved you'll have a hard time getting a case in any other way. Most judges in federal court don't want to hear 20,000 individual fen-phen cases, thus class action suits are filed. In a class action, the lawyers get most of the award. Did you see "Erin Brockavich" that's a good example of a class action, those folks were lucky to have gotten the amounts they did, most class actions give you a small amount and you have to wait forever to get it. The Love Canal plaintiffs are still waiting. Some IUD plaintiffs are still waiting. Appeals go on and on. A lot of class actions are filed on credit card providers and the payouts are like $5 per cardholder. Big Whoop! Some lawyer got $500,000 for trying the case.
If your case is something like John's I say hire a lawyer and go for it. John's case is a good one.
Most importantly, shop lawyers as you would shop anything, like cars, doctors and houses. Don't fall in love with the first one. Get a recommendation from a friend. If you know a lawyer ask him or her who they'd go to.
You'll all be receiving a bill for this advice (ha ha)
-Mara
p.s. John, thanks for the plug. I need it.
