Who Can I Sue? The Poison Pill of the Tort Reform Lobby

Jeremy Thurman
Attorney
(866) 735-1102 Ext 412
Visit Jeremy Thurman on FacebookVisit Jeremy Thurman on LinkedInVisit Jeremy Thurman on Twitter
Posted by Jeremy ThurmanAugust 06, 2008 11:25 PM

There seems to be quite a bit of accusations by individuals commenting to mine and others posts who have fallen prey to the misinformation by the insurance lobby and Corporate lobby. As a Personal Injury Lawyer, I often cringe at accusations such as ambulance chaser et al and wonder just how misinformed these individuals are. Then today I read a post entitled “Who Can I Sue?...Reflects Poorly on You” which reinforced my belief that this is purposefully driven device by the insurance and corporate lobbies to purposefully mislead and straight out lie to the public about our profession.

The article points out that the homepage of whocanisue.com has a picture of a businessman slipping on a banana peel. Luckily someone investigated who was responsible for this reprehensible website and found that it was Jorden Burt, "A Financial Services and Insurance Law Firm"...condemning "unnecessary and frivolous lawsuits." Although I share my disgust at the site, I am not surprised at who is responsible for it.

So why would an insurance puppet put up such a site. I think its quite simple, its election time and a good time to get headlines for those dishonest politicians seeking so called draconian tort reform.

It’s a good time for such sites because surely a paper or politician will pick up on and start giving dishonest speeches about the need for tort reform, when none exists, at least not the type they are purposing. Why would a politician do so? Look no further than money. Its time to go and collect from big business, insurance and doctors who receive the financial benefit of tort reform while the public is harmed. I can point to several politicians in Oklahoma who have personally told me they are against tort reform to only see them come November start derailing “trial lawyers” in commercials in an effort to get more money. Its greed pure and simple.

This is the same about how the insurance lobby has lied to the public over the years about the McDonalds Case and so called myths such a thief suing a homeowner when he fell out a window. These lies are simply to poison your mind against lawyers for political purposes and if you ever serve on a jury.

So I encourage you before you ever yell about “ambulance chaser” or anything the like. Sit back and think what a world would be like where the Ford Pinto was still blowing people up, where Phen fen was still on the market killing innocent women and men, where Oil companies were stealing royalties from their owners and where Allstate, State Farm et al were ripping injured parties worse than they already are. Do you truly trust your insurance company to do the right thing and put profits over you? If you do, like George Strait says, I have some ocean front property here in Oklahoma I would like to sell you.

Tags: None

4 Comments

Have an opinion about this post? Please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader.

Bill Childs
Posted by Bill Childs
August 07, 2008 1:12 PM

The Angus Hinson post you link to is no longer up, and I can find no evidence that Who Can I Sue in fact has any connection to Jorden Burt. (A partner from that firm is quoted in the Time piece; that may be what was noted at first.) If there's any further evidence that the site is set up by "insurance puppets," I'd be interested in seeing it. All evidence indicates that it is set up by a Florida lawyer, Curtis Wolfe, as part of his mRevolution, a company that generates sales leads.

Angus Hinson
Posted by Angus Hinson
August 07, 2008 3:00 PM

Jeremy (and Bill), the original post was made in a password protected area for member firms of injuryboard.com (hence the link not working). Perhaps it was unclear. The post was pointing out that Time magazine went to a Financial Services and Insurance Law Firm (Jorden Burt) for their quote about whocanisue. Of course that firm is going to talk about "frivolous lawsuits" and clogging up the court system.

Here's the original post to IB members in its entirety.

Wednesday is "Creating Credibility" post day here at the IB Members Area blog, and today I'm going to keep it short but sweet.

You see, I just read an article on the Time Magazine website about WhoCanISue.com, a site launching next month, and I'm a little angry. I don't want to say anything I'll regret while I'm emotional, so I'll just offer offer a link to the article and a couple of excerpts.

(excerpt from Time)As if there weren't enough people out there suing each other, now a Florida attorney has come up with a way to make the process even easier.

Beginning next month, anyone with access to the Internet should be able to log onto WhoCanISue.com. The new website plans to help consumers determine whether they actually have a case and help them find an attorney from a list of lawyers who advertise their expertise on the website.(end excerpt)

WhoCanISue? Nice name. Yes. Sounds like you are really out to "help consumers." I mean, look at the picture of the businessman slipping on a banana peel on the current home page of the site!

(excerpt from time)The proliferation of legal matchmakers like Wolfe leaves some in the profession skeptical. "As if there aren't enough lawyers out there inventing lawsuits, now we're going to invite the public to do so," scoffed prominent Miami trial attorney Richard Sharpstein, a partner at Jorden Burt. "I think this is nothing more than a referral service," he says of WhoCanISue.com. "It encourages, if not creates lawsuits. Our country's courts are clogged with unnecessary and frivolous lawsuits which delay, if not obstruct, the access to courts of people that really need to get there, that have serious legal grievances."(end excerpt)

Jorden Burt, ladies and gentlemen: "A Financial Services and Insurance Law Firm"...condemning "unnecessary and frivolous lawsuits."

I write in this space every week trying to help members create credibility. If this doesn't demonstrate the need for change in this industry and the uphill battle we are facing, I don't know what does.

I suggest members blast this site on their blogs - DON'T GIVE THEM ANY CREDIBILITY BY LINKING TO THEM - and blast Time Magazine for not allowing comments on their site while you're at it. You see, not allowing comments prevents you from participating in the conversation.

What do you think about this new site and the image of injury attorneys it projects, members? I'm disgusted.

Michael Tangeman
Posted by Michael Tangeman
August 07, 2008 4:17 PM

So as to dispel the conspiracy and hoax rumors out there, please allow me to provide the following backgrounder on WhoCanISue.com and bio of founder and attorney Curtis Wolfe, available online for all to see:

WhoCanISue.com backgrounder:
LINK

Curtis Wolfe bio:
LINK

Thanks for publishing this so as to clear up any misconception as to who is "behind" the site.

Steve Lombardi
Posted by Steve Lombardi
August 08, 2008 8:08 AM

Let's invite Curtis to reconsider the name. I'm going to post on this on the Des Moines, Iowa site.

Comments for this article are closed. You may still contact the author directly by email.

Subscribe to The Legal Examiner Oklahoma City

The Legal Examiner Oklahoma City RSS Feeds

Keep up with the latest updates using your favorite RSS reader

The Legal Examiner Oklahoma City is brought to you by McIntyre Law

Legal Assistance Center

More Info
McIntyre Law (877) 917-5250 www.oklahoma-law.com
google
Personal Injury Lawyers Serving: Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Stillwater, Norman, Bartlesville, Broken Arrow, Duncan, Edmond, Enid, Lawton, Midwest City, Moore, Muskogee, Ponca City, Shawnee, Ardmore
8601 S. Western Ave, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73139 [ Show Map ]
Confidential

Your question will be referred to an attorney near you. If your question is of a legal nature, then by submitting this form you agree you are not forming a formal attorney / client relationship. Read our full privacy policy.

Subscribe to Blog Updates

Enter your email address if you would like to receive email notifications when comments are made on this post.

Email address