Curmudgeonly & Skeptical: Defund the Democratic Party: Prosecute Barrators

June 03, 2004

Defund the Democratic Party: Prosecute Barrators

They survive with bribes to Democrat law makers

barratry
n. creating legal business by stirring up disputes and quarrels, generally for the benefit of the lawyer who sees fees in the matter. Barratry is illegal in all states and subject to criminal punishment and/or discipline by the state bar, but there must be a showing that the resulting lawsuit was totally groundless. There is a lot of border-line barratry in which attorneys, in the name of being tough or protecting the client, fail to seek avenues for settlement of disputes or will not tell the client he/she has no legitimate claim.

champerty
n. an agreement between the party suing in a lawsuit (plaintiff) and another person, usually an attorney, who agrees to finance and carry the lawsuit in return for a percentage of the recovery (money won and paid). In common law this was illegal on the (correct) theory that it encouraged lawsuits. Today it is legal and often part of a "contingent fee" agreement between lawyer and client. It is not the same as barratry, which is active encouragement of lawsuits.

Rodger Schultz June 3, 2004 07:21 AM |

Comments: Defund the Democratic Party: Prosecute Barrators

Is this going to be on the final?

Posted by Spoons at June 3, 2004 08:01 AM

Hmmm, nice words to basically say that lawyers are the scum of the earth. Like we didn't already know.

Posted by AnnoyedOne at June 3, 2004 08:03 AM

Take copious notes, and you'll do fine on the final exam Spoons.

Posted by Rodger Schultz at June 3, 2004 08:32 AM

Reading my copious notes back to myself, I discovered a terrible flaw. It seems that in their search to be loved, the donks, the ####### lawyers and the commsimps are all unconstitutional. Why not just find a federal judge ( or pay one like they're used to ) and rule accordingly?

Posted by Brother Sean at June 3, 2004 08:51 AM

Thievin'
n. Taking that which does not belong to you.
(See: Lawyerin' an' Taxin')

Posted by DougM at June 3, 2004 09:03 AM

"In every big transaction," said Leech, "there is a magic moment during which a man has surrendered a treasure, and during which the man who is due to receive it has not yet done so. An alert lawyer will make that moment his own, possessing the treasure for a magic second, taking a little of it, passing it on. If the man who is to receive the treasure is unused to wealth, has an inferiority complex and shapeless feelings of guilt, as most people do, the lawyer can often take as much as half the bundle, and still receive the recipient's blubbering thanks."

Kurt Vonnegut; God Bless You Mr. Rosewater etc.

Posted by dick at June 3, 2004 01:56 PM

Barratry was also the sinking of ships for profit (like burning a building for the insurance). The ship supposedly was full of insured cargo, probably, as well. It was one of the last two, I think, capital crimes in Britain. The other was "treason to the body of the monarch" which meant having an affair with the queen, which might produce an illegitimate heir.

Posted by JorgXMcKie at June 4, 2004 01:36 AM