A Report on the Lawsuit Industry in America, 2003

Leadership Team MOTLEY’S CREW Top lawyers dominate the headlines and earnings of Trial Lawyers, Inc. Although the litigation industry has no “organizational structure” like an actual corporation, leading plaintiffs’ attorneys tend to dominate lines of business to such a degree that they might indeed be deemed “division presidents.” Thus, the individuals below in a very real sense constitute the “leadership team” for Trial Lawyers, Inc.   Ron Motley Founder and Chairman A noted trial attorney, Motley led the asbestos charge in the 70s, reaped hundreds of millions in the tobacco settlements, and now takes on lead paint, hoping to score billions more.[198] AP PHOTO/PAULA ILLINGWORTH   Dickie Scruggs President, Tobacco Trent Lott’s brother-in-law raked in nearly a billion as the chief tobacco settlement negotiator; now he goes after health maintenance organizations.[199] AP PHOTO/ROGELIO SOLIS   Peter Angelos Co-President, Asbestos Angelos, along with Motley and Fred Baron,was one of the earliest asbestos warriors;he’s recently sued cell-phone manufacturers.[200] AP PHOTO   Mel Weiss Co-President, Class Actions (Securities) Having never met a stock-price drop they didn’t like, Weiss and erstwhile partner Bill Lerach recently extracted three mega-settlements worth over $300 million each.[201] AP PHOTO/KHUE BUI   Elizabeth Cabraser President, Class Actions (General) Leading class action lawsuits against industries from pharmaceuticals to insurance, Cabraser has extracted billions for Trial Lawyers, Inc., including in the infamous breast-implant case.[202] SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE/LACY ATKINS   John Edwards President, Government Relations After making millions as a personal-injury lawyer, Edwards has turned his attention to the Senate with an eye toward the White House—mostly funded by Trial Lawyers, Inc.[203] GETTY IMAGES/KARIN COOPER/FACE THE NATION   Ralph Nader Co-President, Public Relations Long the best friend of the plaintiffs’ bar,[204] Nader has recently pursued presidential ambitions of his own in advancinghis crusade against American business. GETTY IMAGES/MICHAEL SMITH/NEWSMAKERS   Joan Claybrook Co-President, Public Relations Longtime Nader ally Claybrook has headed Public Citizen since 1982 and has emerged as Trial Lawyers, Inc.’s de facto public voice.[205] AP PHOTO/TERU IWASAKI