There is an intentionally bald lawyer who advertises regularly on local TV here. He looms in front of the camera, and looks oddly like Bull from the old “Night Court” TV series. His shiny dome and incessant scowl make the point – his tagline – “I’ll make them pay!”
I thought of that shyster the other day when we received a news release from some law firm announcing that it had set up a special “tire defects” unit, complete with a Web site.
Every tire magazine in the U.S. got that release. Unlike some, we chose – very intentionally – to toss it. Why would we give comfort to the enemy?
People are quick to blame lawyers for all of the lawsuits that clog up our court system. But lawyers don’t sue people or companies, people do. Good lawyers are simply their legal representative, someone who helps guide them through the tangle of our legal system. And I don’t begrudge someone for seeking “justice” when they are actually harmed by the negligence of another.
I hate the fact that I am even addressing this, but I have a big problem with guys like Bull and law firms like the one that sent us that news release. It’s one thing to represent those legitimately harmed, it is quite another to troll for cases, to incite fear and create problems where none exist.
And I have a bigger problem with those who make their jobs easier. It is not in this industry’s best interests to give these greed-heads any traction. I don’t know why anyone would.
If there is a legit reason to go after a tire company or dealer for clear-cut violations of the public trust, we will do so. But we will NEVER give publicity to or accept advertising from any plaintiff attorney that so blatantly seeks at attack this industry.
