ABSURDITIES OF OUR LEGAL SYSTEM

Share your comments with host Alan Frank, the controversial retired trial attorney turned journalist who exposes the "absurdities" of the American legal system. 

The subject of this initial episode will be the absurd words, “Let's Kill All The Lawyers”, which were spoken by Dick the Butcher in Shakespeare’s ''Henry VI,'' .  He reasoned that the only way his hero Jack Cade could overthrow the king would be to destroy all the righteous and noble officers of the Courts.

How times have changed.  This once absurd comment has evolved over the past 4 centuries to the point where it is now the fight song of the ever expanding legion of disgruntled former clients of America.

One of the most glaring causes of this absurdity of our legal system is the contingent fee. It became accepted in the late 18^th century, ostensibly in response to the strong American desire to insure access to the courts by the poor.  Unfortunately, it quickly became intimately connected to ambulance chasing, thereby popularizing the worst aspects of our legal system.

Attorney overcharging has become an unnecessary plague. The poor no longer need help getting to court.  The modern advent of litigation funding is steadily working its way into our legal system.

In 2003, plaintiff attorney fees in the US totaled an estimated $46 billion. This is only slightly less than the 2003 total sales figure for BMW.

Future blogcasts will cover all sorts of other absurdities, such as those that appear in: racism, religion, evolution, wars, jail, morality, government, truth-seeking, nuclear weaponry, and hard football helmets.

Listeners are welcome to share their stories.  Call-in at: (718) 664-6060