John Grisham On Lawyer Advertising
Louis Grizzard (February 20, 2019 blog article) is not the only author commenting on lawyer advertising. John Grisham, renowned author of more than thirty (30) best sellers weaves this subject into one of his latest books dealing with the legal and judicial systems, The Rooster Bar (Dell Mass Market Edition, 2018).
Most attorneys that read his publications are aware of his ability as a trial lawyer and authority who can turn an actual case into a fictionalized version that grabs on and holds the reader’s interest to the end.
In The Rooster Bar, he addresses legal advertising in a way that is very similar to some of the tactics used in Tennessee and Hamilton County:
“The king of D.C. billboards was a colorful tort lawyer named Rusty Savage. His jingle was ‘Trusting Rusty’, and it was impossible to drive along the Beltway without being confronted with his smiling face exhorting those who’d suffered all manner of physical trauma but were doing swell because they had wisely picked up the phone and called 1-800-Trust-Me.”
Sound familiar? Buy the paperback and enjoy Grisham! Conversion of facts about the lawyers world into fiction are also subject to discussion on caps on damages, expert medical witnesses, bridge loans to cover medical expenses, attorney fees, and records of settlements by insurance companies and defense lawyers (not trial, and “boasts of no fears of the plaintiff’s lawyers”, etc.)
Other familiar advertising tactics make the book enjoyable to read but also uncovers “deceptive advertising” used even in fiction.
John Grisham has written another easy reading but informative fictional novel.
J.D. Lee—Trial Lawyer Extraordinaire
A recent Facebook entry from Sid Gilreath included a photo of him with ninety year old courtroom warrior, J.D. Lee of Madisonville on his birthday at his residence.
J.D. was one of the earliest presidents of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association, Tennessee’s only president of the American Trial Lawyers Association, unsuccessful candidate for the United States Senate, and recognized as one of America’s premier trial lawyers.
Before I-75 was built U.S. Highway 411 was known as “Bloody 411,” a narrow two lane road that ran through J.D.’s home base of Madisonville and resulted in many automobile and tractor-trailer wrecks that J.D. acquired as clients.
He grew a reputation as a feared and highly competent trial lawyer who was always willing to share his knowledge and expertise with young and old lawyers.
When president of ATLA he travelled across the country in his twin engine Beechcraft Baron to speak at state and national seminars and to stand up and fight for the rights of injured and deceased parties and their families.
He was respected by plaintiff’s attorneys and feared by insurance defense lawyers. He was successful and made his reputation the old respected way----he earned it!
I encourage you to buy local products and hire local, reputable attorneys!
IF YOU AGREE WITH THE CONTENT OF THE SILLY BLOG, PLEASE PASS ON TO OTHERS!
Silly Blog Has Birthday!
Two years ago on May 31, 2017, (my late parent’s anniversary date) I created and distributed the first article on my “truthinlawyeradvertising.com” blog.
It initially had no name but after one of Chattanooga’s biggest lawyer advertising firms complained about its existence and referred to it as a “silly blog” I adopted the term as the name of the publication. As I have stated on several occasions lawyer advertising was legalized in 1978 by the United States Supreme Court on a limited “non-deceptive basis under the public’s right to know.”
What was to be limited to uncontested divorces and adoption, simple personal bankruptcies, and name changes has now evolved into a multi-billion dollar industry that has drastically changed the publics access to the legal community and greatly increased the financial coffers of advertising agencies, newspapers, television, radio, cable, internet, etc.
At first most lawyers accepted the proposed limited access to the public and behind their backs made light of the advertising lawyers. However, as the advertisers pushed forward to expand the use of bolder and often exaggerated claims as to their legal accomplishments, credentials and other forms of deceptive advertising the competition for legal cases has exploded.
The vast majority of legal advertising solicitations are in the areas of class action lawsuits, personal injury, social security, bankruptcy, divorce and criminal law. Most of the so-called “silk stocking” law firms at first frowned upon the legal advertisers but many have now engaged in advertising that so far appears to be in compliance with the “non-deception” barrier established by Justice Blackmun in 1978.
So far the fifty states’ efforts to regulate and control the use of lawyer advertising have varied. Some have tried to strictly control the representations allowed in the field, while others have been more relaxed in their efforts.
The Silly Blog has tried to educate the public in order to assist them to make an educated decision in the selection of legal counsel. Our goal has been to assist the injured and wronged citizens to hire an attorney based on legitimate credentials, accomplishments and ethics. The use of paid actors, standing on a tractor trailer, settling cases below their actual value, gimmicks such as flying in a Superman cape, representing that they are qualified to try cases because they have settled but not tried cases for certain amounts, etc. may be entertaining but may be deceptive. The best advertisers may not be the best to handle your case.
Talk to several advertising and several non-advertising law firms before you make an employment decision. In none of the numerous articles have I asked anyone to send our law firm a case. We will stand on our reputation established over fifty-two years of trying cases in state and federal courts.
The Silly Blog will continue and its only request to celebrate its birthday is by having the reader forward it to at least 10 or more friends, clients or acquaintances with the request that they do the same.
I encourage you to buy local products and hire local, reputable attorneys!
IF YOU AGREE WITH THE CONTENT OF THE SILLY BLOG, PLEASE PASS ON TO OTHERS!
Other Important Questions to Ask in Any Search for a Personal Injury Attorney or Law Firm
Who in the firm will be handling your case?
When you hire a law firm, you are also hiring a specific lawyer, or a legal team within the firm who will be dealing with your case. Don’t just ask about the firm, make inquiries about who the lawyer and other members of the firm are who will be handling your matter. Usually personal injury claims can result in a long-term relationship with this team, and you will want to do what you can to know who you’ll be dealing with throughout the process. Sometimes you may be under the impression you are hiring a named partner of the firm, but without asking these questions you may come to learn that they may not be involved in your matter at all, or sparingly. While the lawyer handling your matter may be qualified, you have a right to know who it is, and decide for yourself whether you want them handling your case.
Make certain that you know when and if your case will be referred to another firm!
Recently the media has brought attention to what are referred to as “brokerage houses”. These are firms that advertise extensively within a particular practice area of law but actually intend to refer your case out to another firm. They make their money by charging “referral fees” to the lawyer they refer you to. It’s generally a good idea to be wary of such firms as you may not get the lawyer you think you are hiring. Referrals are generally necessary if there is a conflict of interest, or the matter falls outside of the lawyer’s expertise. In either case, you will want to do your research about the lawyer you are being referred to, and always remember – the choice is ultimately yours. You have no obligation to accept a referral, and if you do, ask questions about any fee arrangements that may be involved in the referral. Any referral fee paid should come from the lawyers share of the fees.
Ask questions about multiple location law firms.
Firms claiming to have offices across the state or in multiple locations all over the country are an increasingly common practice. Although it makes perfect sense to have a satellite office to expand client reach, you will want to ask questions about where your claim is going to be started. It should be started in the jurisdiction you live in, not where the office of the lawyer is located. This leads to the additional question of the lawyer’s practice experience in that particular jurisdiction. You will also want to ask how often they are actually available at the satellite location office nearest to you to get a better sense of how accessible your lawyer will be to you.
Ask about how expenses in your case are going to be handled.
Although many lawyers advertise that you don’t pay their fee unless they win, what may not be apparent from those types of advertisements is what other expenses you may be responsible for – whether upfront or at the end of the case, if you are not successful. You will want to ask whether you can expect to pay for any expenses and if so when are they expected to be paid in the course of your claim. Will the firm still expect you to pay the thousands of dollars they have spent to pursue your case if you lose? Different firms will have different policies related to how they deal with expenses incurred during the course of your claim, and whether they are prepared to carry those expenses will depend on the firm’s policies and how they view your particular case.
Be wary of advertising by any law firm that they are “Best of the Best,” “Number 1,” or “Award Winning.”
The practice of using “ratings” or “awards” for advertising and promotion has been a popular one among some law firms, seeking to distinguish themselves as being ahead of the rest. Most advertising rules prohibit lawyers from claiming they are superior or better than other firms, but that does not mean they can’t boast of accolades received claiming them to be so. However, it’s always a good idea to view these accolades with healthy skepticism. Some clever marketing companies have created a billion dollar industry around awarding these accolades to industry members in exchange for a fee. Others like the consumer choice awards are based on nominations and voting which can be done online by members of the public, regardless of whether they have ever been a client of the firm or not. When choosing a lawyer be sure that their claims about these awards provide a clear explanation of how the awards are attained. If this isn’t clear it’s a good question to ask during your initial consultation.
Be wary of claims that they have own millions in settlements. (Ask how many judgments they have won in jury trials or bench trials.)
Often times when there are claims made about millions of dollars in settlements achieved for clients, this type of information isn’t really valuable to your assessment of a firm’s qualifications but is more an appeal to your hopes for what your claim may be worth. Every personal injury law firm over time will accrue millions of dollars worth of settlements achieved, but that doesn’t mean each settlement was a high value settlement. Review these types of claims with a great deal of scrutiny and ask a lot of questions about how they come up with these figures or claims and what they are based on.
Most importantly look for integrity in adversity not gimmicks!
In the end choosing the right lawyer is an important decision in your case. This will be a long term relationship and hiring a lawyer you feel you can trust is fundamental. It is worth doing the research and asking the right questions to make sure you feel completely confident about your decision. Research their website carefully, search for reviews or testimonials, and ask friends or family what their experiences have been. By being prepared for your initial consult you can maximize your consultation time with the lawyer, and make sure you leave feeling confident that you understand the culture of the firm, and the knowledge and strategy that they can bring to your case.
I encourage you to buy local products and hire local, reputable attorneys!
IF YOU AGREE WITH THE CONTENT OF THE SILLY BLOG, PLEASE PASS ON TO OTHERS!
Readers Speak
The following readers of the Silly Blog give their viewpoints on lawyer advertising. They are identified only by initials.
R.R.—“Lawyer advertising is another method of bottom feeding. It’s time to put an end to this nonsense. The public has a lot of disrespect for the legal profession directly related to advertising.
S.S.—“My mom was a victim of this and got a law settlement prematurely. She ended up having to have additional surgeries due to her injuries and she was just out of luck. Fact is, she has brain damage from a car crash in 1994 and she was taken advantage of.”
N.T.—“These out of state TV lawyers are afraid to try a case and settle a case for very cheap. Once an insurance defense law firm finds out who the TV out of state lawyer or even if he or she is a local one the offer of settlement is “law balled.””
R.L.—“I remember the good old days when lawyers could not advertise.”
J.G.—“Are you talking about truth in advertising doing away with a high industry lawyer, doctor, and hospital advertising?
If you have additional comments on the good or bad of lawyer advertising send it to my email at jsummers@summersfirm.com.
I encourage you to buy local products and hire local, reputable attorneys!
IF YOU AGREE WITH THE CONTENT OF THE SILLY BLOG, PLEASE PASS ON TO OTHERS!
Myths (M) and Truths (T) About Lawyers and Lawyer Advertising
The following myths and truths are borrowed with permission from Attorney Ben Glass of Fairfax, Virginia, 22030, www.benglasslaw.com, ben@benglasslaw.com.
1. M- All lawyers have the same training.
T- Not all lawyers have the same training. Warren Burger, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, once warned, “A lawyer is not qualified, simply by virtue of admission to the bar, to be an advocate in trial courts for matters of serious consequence.” Many lawyers continue their professional training throughout their careers, but for some, the last time they learned anything new about their craft was in law school.
2. M- The bar association determines whether a lawyer can advertise that he is a “divorce lawyer” or a “personal injury specialist.”
T- The bar association does not determine whether a lawyer can advertise that he is a “divorce lawyer” or a “personal injury specialist.” There are virtually no restrictions on the types of law for which a lawyer may advertise. Once an attorney graduates from law school, he or she is allowed to handle virtually any case.
3. M-All lawyers go to trial.
T- Not all lawyers go to trial; some who advertise for personal injury or medical malpractice cases have never gone to trial.
4. M-All lawyers have the same experience.
T- Not all lawyers have the same experience. This may seem obvious, but many people (and some lawyers) think “a lawyer is a lawyer is a lawyer.”
5. M-A lawyer who is good at DWI cases will be good at personal injury cases.
T- A lawyer who is good at DWI cases won’t necessarily be good at personal injury cases— while this may have been true in the “old days,” today the practice of both DWI and personal injury cases is highly specialized. The same goes for just about every other type of law.
6. M-All lawyers carry legal malpractice insurance.
T- Not all lawyers carry legal malpractice insurance. It is perfectly legal for a lawyer to not purchase malpractice insurance. Shockingly, they are not required to tell you who they are! You must ask for this information. Only a fool would hire an attorney who does not carry malpractice insurance.
7. M-If a lawyer advertises that he accepts certain types of cases, he actually has experience with those types of cases.
T- The fact that a lawyer advertises that he accepts certain types of cases does not necessarily mean that he actually has experience with those types of cases. Again, there are no strict rules against advertising for cases even if you just walked out of school. Not all lawyers who advertise on TV for malpractice cases, for example, have real experience handling a malpractice case. Sometimes a local lawyer’s advertising will actually be paid for by a big out-of-state law firm. (The local lawyer will then get a cut of the action when the case is over.)
8. M-A lawyer who advertises will actually be the lawyer handling your case.
T- A lawyer who advertises won’t necessarily be the lawyer handling your case. Some lawyers advertise for cases simply to refer them out to other lawyers. What do they expect to get for this? A big, fat referral fee.
9. M-A “lawyer referral service” is a good way to find the right lawyer for your case.
T- A “lawyer referral service” is not necessarily a good way to find the right lawyer for your case. Lawyers pay to be on these lists and no one checks to see whether the lawyer actually has experience in your legal matter.
10. M-Lawyers who advertise on TV must be super-successful, otherwise they couldn’t afford to pay for the ads.
T- Massive TV and radio advertising is not necessarily a sign of success. Some lawyers run a “volume practice,” hoping to make a little money off each case—usually by settling most, if not all, of the cases. Shockingly, in some offices paralegals handle virtually the entire case. The only time you see the lawyer may be when you are watching the TV ad.
11. M-Lawyers at “Internet Find-A-Lawyer” directory sites are carefully screened for qualifications.
T- Most Internet lawyer “directories” are nothing more than another advertising media. Lawyers are solicited daily to pay big bucks to have an “exclusive listing” as a “specialist” in a particular city. A valid credit card is sometimes their only “qualification.”
12. M-Choosing an attorney from the local “Best Lawyers of the City” guide is a good method of finding the right lawyer for your case.
T- The local magazine “best lawyers” listing may not include the best lawyers in the area. It might have only those lawyers who returned the forms and the “winners” might be ones who were able to convince their friends to vote. You need to know which lawyer rating programs are valid.
The answers to these myths and truths may vary depending upon the particular facts and circumstances of each scenario, but generally they are applicable to the lawyer advertising industry.
I encourage you to buy local products and hire local, reputable attorneys!
IF YOU AGREE WITH THE CONTENT OF THE SILLY BLOG, PLEASE PASS ON TO OTHERS!
Federal Trade Commission and Lawyer Advertising
Since the motto of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is “protecting America’s consumers” I immediately went to the agencies website at www.ftc.gov expecting to find much information on how this watchdog for the public was dealing with the subject of lawyer advertising in the era of “the Texas Law Hawk” and our local groups of self-promoters on the airways, by-ways and highways. Theoretically, when consumers see or hear an advertisement on the Internet, radio, television or anywhere else, federal law requires that the ad must be truthful, not misleading, and appropriate and backed by scientific evidence.
I read on and got excited for the non-lawyer advertising majority of my brethren in the trial bar as to a possible regulatory method to curtail the “deceptive” advertising allegedly banned by Justice Blackmon in the Bates decision in 1978. My hopes soared higher as I read further that “the FTC enforces those built-in-advertising laws and the agency applies the same standards no matter where an ad appears—in newspapers and magazines, online, in the mail, or on billboards or busses.”
It also stated that when the FTC finds a case of fraud perpetrated on consumers, “the agency files actions in federal district court for immediate and permanent order to stop scams”. I decided to further quench my thirst for knowledge in this foreign field of the law by attempting to find a report on the subject of lawyer advertising. However, that subject seemed to be absent from multiple topics that I attempted to scan for a couple of hours.
Although the FTC states that “it looks especially close at advertising claims that can affect the consumer’s health or their pocketbooks, “my search for the agency’s position on lawyer advertising was in vain.”
Will some anti-trust lawyers (if any) reading this blog direct me to some source of informative writing about the FTC’s position on lawyer advertising as it applies to the agency position on the topic?
I did not do too well on the subject in law school and need your help!
I encourage you to buy local products and hire local, reputable attorneys!
IF YOU AGREE WITH THE CONTENT OF THE SILLY BLOG, PLEASE PASS ON TO OTHERS!
5,208 and Growing
My I.T. guy informs me we now have 5,208 readers of the Silly Blog. I don’t know if that figure includes the group that banned the blog because it silently adversely criticizes the minority members who spend the big advertising dollars or by members who boast of their big settlements (no verdicts). Also the largest bar association in this State silently declined to run a paid ad announcing the Silly Blog’s existence.
Hopefully that number of readers includes lawyers who recognize that the mistake of the U.S. Supreme Court in 1978 favors the media advertisers but hurts the image of most trial lawyers with the public and also affects them and their families financially. The Silly Blog does not contain any solicitation of cases for my law firm.
It also includes an invitation for each lawyer to use any of the material I have published to send to their clients, friends, relatives, acquaintances or anyone else that you feel needs to be informed of the plusses and minuses of lawyer advertising. You can even claim it as your own product.
With your help the number of readers will continue to grow. If the non-television, radio, billboard, internet, etc. advertising lawyers use the Silly Blog perhaps the public will regain any confidence that trial lawyers may have lost.
I encourage you to buy local products and hire local, reputable attorneys!
Tennessee Tort Filings and Trials 2017-2018
In one of our most recent articles we reported on the actual trial records in tort cases tried to verdict in the courts of Tennessee of the largest spending television, radio, billboard and website lawyer advertisers in the Chattanooga area as reported in the Tennessee Jury Verdict Reporter (TJVR) for the year 2018.
Reputable Nashville trial lawyer and legal scholar John Day disseminated to the membership of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association (TTLA) and others the numbers posted in Tennessee Statistics in three articles dated February 26-28, 2019. I direct your attention to John’s website at jday@johndaylegal.com for the complete article.
As Nashville and Chattanooga continue to have significant population growth the number of trials in tort cases continues to decline. Why? The silly blog will give its viewpoint.
1. The Tennessee General Assembly has an overwhelming business oriented Republican majority and few lawyers committed to the protection of rights of injured individuals now serve;
2. The Tennessee Supreme Court the week after they were re-elected announced that they wanted to be more business friendly (I leave it to the individual to decide whether that statement has become effective);
3. The use of mediation has contributed to the resolution of some cases that might have been decided either for or against either side;
4. The restrictions in Workers Compensation cases have reduced a substantial amount of attorney’s fees that might have discouraged plaintiffs from filing said cases in order to earn fees that could be used to pursue more expensive cases such as Healthcare Liabiality and Product Liability cases;
5. The expense and difficulty of pursuing Healthcare Liability actions as the result of legislative enactments;
6. The solicitation of automobile, tractor-trailer and other personal injury cases by local and out-of-state advertising firms with million dollar budgets that necessitate early resolution (settlement) of cases;
7. The decline in the public’s perception as to the image of trial lawyers as the result of being bombarded with self-serving and deceptive advertisements on radio, television, billboards, websites, etc. (This also gives ammunition to our enemies in the legislature to enact more plaintiff unfriendly legislation).
The figures can also be deceptive. A few years ago a Chattanooga attorney got a multi-million dollar verdict for a client under the following facts:
1. Client severely injured by drunk driver who had no insurance;
2. Drunk defendant convicted of vehicular assault and was not in court at time of trial (jailed);
3. No insurance in effect;
4. No attorney appeared to defend drunk driver
5. No issue as to causation by drunk driver;
6. No substantial uninsured motorist coverage;
7. When asked by the trial judge why the plaintiff lawyer was wasting the court and jury’s time in pursuing the case it was stated for “the purpose of the same lawyer to qualify to get a badge on his website for acquiring a “Million Dollar or Multi-Million Dollar settlement or judgment?” Any deception there?
John Day’s three articles on Tennessee Tort Filings and Trials in 2017-2018 may be factually correct but I respectfully submit do not address the real reasons for the decline in said figures. (No criticism of John)
I encourage you to buy local products and hire local, reputable attorneys!
Humor Time
Teacher’s remarks on student’s report cards in an East public school system that got the teachers reprimands:
1. Since my last report, your child has reached a rock bottom and has started to dig.
2. I would not allow this student to breed.
3. Your child has delusions of adequacy.
4. Your son is depriving a village somewhere of an idiot.
5. Your son sets low personal standards and then consistently fails to achieve them.
6. The student has a “full six-pack” but lacks the plastic thing to hold it all together.
7. This child has been working with glue too much.
8. When your daughter’s IQ reaches 50, she should sell.
9. The gates are down, the lights are flashing, but the train isn’t coming.
10. If this student were any more stupid, he’d have to be watered twice a week.
11. It’s impossible to believe the sperm that created this child beat out 1,000,000 others.
12. The wheel is turning but the hamster is definitely dead.
(This is a break from Deceptive Lawyer Advertising!)
I encourage you to buy local products and hire local, reputable attorneys!
How To Get a Lawyer
A rather unusual answer to the radio, television, billboard, direct mail and website, etc. solicitation advertisements was made by USA Today billionaire columnist Ken Fisher on Monday, March 4, 2019, on the above question. Although much of what he says is not directly related to the question of how to select a lawyer from the endless bombardment of self-promoting personal injury lawyers described in the media he does make a good comparison and suggestions for lawyer selection.
Mr. Fisher makes some rather pertinent comments about the process of choosing a lawyer to represent you in a legal matter:
1. “In decades overseeing dispute resolution at my firm, the worst litigation advice I’ve gotten come from lawyers who weren’t actual trial lawyers. They think they know but don’t----like some bloody textbook oral surgeon----Ignore them its bloody!”
2. “Search online for, ‘How to find a good trial lawyer.’”
3. “Ask for ten names from the local bar association who handle the type of case you are involved in and another ten names of lawyers by recommendation of friends or relatives that you trust to give you an honest opinion.” (First ten may be questionable)
4. “Meet with the lawyers you are considering to hire. Ask how they get started, their experience, chair experience and examples of their experience” (Also check out their claimed experience).
5. “If your lawyer candidate doesn’t warn you how suing can backfire, run!”
6. “If they claim they are the best around, they aren’t!”
7. If their goal is extorting a pre-trial settlement go elsewhere and find a lawyer who is willing, if needed, to go all the way to a final judgment. Good ones will!
Mr. Fisher closes with what should be the number one maxim for all attorneys: “Never lie. Judges really hate combatant lies.”
These comments from the successful founder of Fisher Investments, a nationally recognized investment firm, number 200 on the Forbes 400 richest Americans are also applicable to legal practitioners in any field of law and should be followed.
I encourage you to buy local products and hire local, reputable attorneys!
I Surrender
It is with a heavy heart and sincere regrets that I announce that I am shutting down the Silly Blog and will be joining the ranks of the self-promoting brethren of the Bar on television, radio and billboards, etc.
1. I have cashed in my 401(K) retirement fund and am committed to beating the Boys from Birmingham at their own game by opening up a satellite office in the Magic City (Birmingham) with ten associates and will be putting up two hundred billboards in the Birmingham area with my smiling old face and a young attractive female associate with a gleaming set of teeth. Also I do not intend to say that I am a Tennessee lawyer with a license to practice in Alabama on my billboards.
2. I also have decided to create a new firm motto in the advertisements such as “You Gotta Get Jerry.” I’ve got about a thirty year head start on the nice looking reverend who took over the motto while I was busy representing thousands of clients in court during my fifty-three years as a lawyer.
3. My alternative website will be “The Outsider” not to be mistaken for the agile tractor-trailer climbers, “The Insiders.” As a fifty-one year member of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association, president in 1978, political action committee chairman for 10-15 years, LIFT member for over forty years and sponsor of a law school scholarship for descendants of TTLA members, etc. I believe I have earned the title of “The Outsider” since the “truthinlawyeradvertising blog” has been banned from the organizations list serve because of criticism of the few members who spend large amounts in advertising that benefit their small minority but adversely affect the 99% of lawyers who get their business the old way-----results, referrals from other lawyers, satisfied clients and overall good reputation.
APRIL FOOL! The Silly Blog will continue! With a little help of the 5,000 individuals who have read the blog and are willing to ask their friends, clients, and relatives to send it to others who might in at least one case assure the public that we are attempting to make certain that clients get full compensation because they hire a lawyer or law firm that will fight on their behalf in their best interests rather than paying for self-serving lawyer advertisements!
I encourage you to buy local products and hire local, reputable attorneys!
Tennessee Jury Verdict Reporter 2018
In the April 4 and April 25, 2018, articles in the Silly Blog (affectionately named by last year’s second highest money spending lawyer advertisers) I pointed out the trial (not settlements) results of the seven most prolific social media spenders in the Hamilton County markets.
I was able to obtain the 2016 figures spent on lawyer advertising by the five personal injury and two bankruptcy firms through the help of another anonymous competitor of the top five from Kantar Media. Unfortunately I have not been able to get the 2017-2018 numbers for some reason but the dollars spent are stated in the August 1, 2017, Silly Blog article titled Lawyer Advertising is Not Free. If any reader has access to the 2017-2018 Kantar Media financial figures for Hamilton County I would appreciate receiving a copy. Your identity will not be revealed!
What did the Tennessee Jury Verdict Reporter show as how the big spenders and self-avowed great trial lawyers fare with the jury or judges in trials during the last year?
Charles Pitman—evidently the guy in the Superman cape (Had a wreck need a check?) has left the Volunteer State and returned to his home base of Huntsville without any verdicts being reported.
Warren & Griffin—of “We have collected millions of dollars on behalf of our clients in judgments and settlements.” The record of Mr. Warren’s named partner is a little bit unclear since there is a “John Griffin” and a “John Griffin, Jr.” in Middle Tennessee listed as trying cases during the years 2005-2018. There is no listing of a John Mark Griffin obtaining any judgments in 2018. His partner in the Big Orange overalls tried two cases during the years 2005-2018 with one loss and a verdict for $628.00.
“The Insiders” (McMahan Law Firm) seem to be spending more time on television than they do in the courtroom. Both of them showed only one new case tried in 2018.
One of the problems with the Tennessee Jury Verdict reporter is that it is just a thirteen years compilation of cases tried but doesn’t indicate in what years the trial took place.
A comparison of the “Gotta Get Gary” (Massey) trial record shows that he didn’t try any cases in 2018 and the period from 2005-2017 only show the same statistics.
The record of the “Billboard Boys from Birmingham” (Wettermark Keith) show that the senior or junior member of the firm didn’t try any cases in Hamilton County in 2018 and show no jury verdicts in Tennessee as well. However, they have pretty much cornered the billboard market in the Hamilton County market but do not list their home base of Birmingham, Alabama.
What do these statistics show? Although in their advertising they create the impression that they are active trial lawyers in the Tennessee court system their claims of millions of dollars collected in court are greatly exaggerated! Is this “Deceptive?” That is for the reader and potential clients to decide.
Talk to several lawyers before you make the important decision as to who you want to represent you. Slick ads and self-serving testimonials by lawyers or alleged satisfied clients should not be the deciding factor in making your decision.
I encourage you to buy local products and hire local, reputable attorneys!
Best of the Best—1 or 2 or 3 or 4?
Up until five years ago the only listing for lawyers in the Chattanooga Times Free annual crusade to designate the Best of the Best under their super-secret method of selection was Best Divorce Lawyer. Jennifer Lawrence, Glenna Ramer, Hal North and David Noblit have annually fought for recognition in this category. The fact that one of the above has consistently purchased half page ads in the publication is just a collateral benefit and coincidental to the selection process.
Suddenly the defenders of the local legal constituency of 1,200-1,500 attorneys have taken on the out-of-state invaders from Alabama. Warren & Griffin, when not walking across the Walnut Street Bridge or standing on an overpass on I-75 advocating public safety proudly claim that they are Chattanooga’s Best of the Best Law Firm for the past five years according to the super-secret selection process of our local newspaper.
Reverend Gary Massey and the purchasers of John McMahan’s moniker, The Insiders, have yet to be selected as the 3rd and 4th Best of the Best but there is still hope for them as they continue to spend big bucks for legal advertising on billboards, radio, television and the internet.
This December the Billboard Boys from Birmingham (Wettermark Keith) who have cornered the market on the highways and byways of Hamilton County have now taken to the television airways to proclaim that the good citizens of our community have selected them as the Best of the Best Law Firm although they still neglect to state that their main office is in Birmingham, Alabama, and only have a satellite office in Chattanooga.
What a dilemma! It’s like trying to pick between Alabama and Clemson in the National Championship Football game. Are there no other local law firms that can challenge these self-proclaimed defenders of the rights of the injured and deceased? Where is Charles Pitman when the public needs him? (Gone back to Huntsville, Alabama, and Divorce Court?)
I encourage you to buy local products and hire local, reputable attorneys!