Tort Law Tidbit
This is an unusual tort law tidbit directed only at lawyers for plaintiffs. If you are not interested in reading a rant, I suggest you move to a different site now.
If you represent plaintiffs in tort cases you need to be a member of the Tennessee Association for Justice, a contributor to its Circle of Advocates, and a contributor to Lawyers Involved For Tennessee, a PAC for lawyers interested in preserving the civil justice system.
TAJ provides access to information which will help you be a better lawyer and dues partially fund the lobbying effort in the General Assembly on behalf of you and your clients. The organization plays a critical role on Capitol Hill.
But that is not enough. A regular contribution to LIFT supports political candidates who have demonstrated support for the political justice system. These contributions are essential - candidates need contributions to successfully run for and stay in office. And a TAJ Circle of Advocates contribution funds the majoirty of the legislative effort.
Some people join TAJ and not the Circle of Advocates or LIFT, claiming they don't like politics. In my experience, those people don't join LIFT or give to the Circle because they don't get a direct benefit for their contribution. In other words, they will give money to an organization like TAJ because they get something of more value in return, but they won't give to LIFT or the Circle because they don't see an immediate return.
In short, these people are "takers," not "givers." In other words, they are selfish.
I am not saying that people need to take food off their table to support these organizations. And to be sure there are some plaintiff's lawyers with health or other issues who cannot give. But almost every lawyer can afford to make some level of contribution, and those of us who have enjoyed the benefits of the jury system need to do more than others. LIFT accepts contibutions of as little as $30 per month, less than a bottle of wine in a decent restuarant.
I have no respect for "takers." I am fed up with plaintiff's lawyers driving around in fancy cars and bragging about their second homes who can't manage to make a contribution to LIFT. I am fed up with lawyers who advertise for personal injury cases but who refuse to contribute to support the legal rights of their clients.
You either believe in what we do or you don't. If you do, put your money and time where your mouth is. And if you don't do something else. Don't take from those who are willing to give. Those of you who do should be ashamed.
No doubt some of the takers who read this will be offended. As you might have guessed I could not care less. In fact, if I could find a way to prevent takers from reading this blog I would. The idea that a taker might get something of value here - yet another taking - disturbs me.
I do not intend to change the mind of takers by these comments. (I do hope that those of you who have let your contributions lapse inadvertantly or have not realized the importance of your contributions will step up to the plate and give.) True takers are not negligent - their conduct is intentional and they will not change it because anyone points it out.
Rather, I want those of us who make a contribution to these organizations to look over the list of contributors published in The Tennessee Trial Lawyer magazine. See who is missing. And the next time a taker asks for advice, wants you to share the name of an expert, etc., just tell them "no. " They have taken enough. Don't refer these people cases. If they believe they live on an island let them live there - alone.
By the same token, share with those who are givers. Those who give need to support other givers. They deserve it. A rising tide lifts all boats.
I am sure some taker will write a comment about what a jerk I am. Please do. I will publish it. But when you write it please have the courage to use your real name. And then tell us how much money you made representing plaintiffs in personal injury cases in the last five years and why you can't afford to give.
Oh yeah, and tell us what kind of car you drive.
Ummm, it's COULDN'T care less. Pet peeve.
My question is, what if one disagrees with the professional organization's support choices on non professional grounds?
Let's say I'm a plaintiff's lawyer and am also passionately against the four laning of Highway 64. If LIFT wants so give to Senator X, who voted to expand the highway, am I a taker for not giving to LIFT?
Still loving your great lawyer series.
A-MEN!!!
To Staghounds: I do have a problem with a lawyer who would take that position. However, I would not automatically assume that person to be a taker. I would assume that such a person is politically naive.
There are very few politicians that I agree with on 100% of issues. If the test of whether you should give to a PAC is that you have to agree with every donation to every politican and must agree with every donee on every issue everyone would have an excuse not to give to a PAC. The world is not that simple.
At best, the people who don't give to a PAC are shall we say political purists and not takers. If so, those people should double their contribution to the Circle of Advocates, the TAJ lobbying effort. In that way they can advance a cause they believe in without supporting individual politicians with whom they are not in 100% agreement.
Staghounds: no one agrees with every politican on every issue. I suggest that a person who believes as set out in your hypothetical is politically naive. I would also suggest that such a person may simply be using the Hwy 64 issue as an excuse not to give.