Huldra Forsvant (Theodor Kittelsen)

Huldra Forsvant (Theodor Kittelsen)
Huldra Forsvant (Theodor Kittelsen)

Thursday, August 5, 2010

A High Price

Miranda Devine makes some interesting points about the David Jones scandal.

'He lost his job, got a comparatively paltry pay-off, became a national joke and had to leave the country in disgrace. DJs has taken a hit to its reputation, and its share price. It is now the butt of jokes. So why the need for a $37 million lawsuit, even if Fraser-Kirk plans to give any punitive damages to charity? Enormous lawsuits are the bane of our lives, feathering the slick corporate nests of the burgeoning law firms in this city, increasing costs of insurance, ruining community activities..

..Hysterical legal hyperbole does not help women of any age. Greedy lawsuits only damage women in the workplace by making male colleagues resentful and wary. In the real world, this is a severe handicap for women making their way on their own merits.'

8 comments:

Pedro said...

Rumour has it she pushed for the massive lawsuit (in cahoots with her lawyers, obviously) so as to push DJ's into a solid settlement amount for her.
Publicity stunt. Nice.

Ben McLaughlin said...

I find it pretty hard not to be cynical about lawyers.

Alistair Bain said...

I used to be a lawyer. But I've been going straight now for a few years. Honest.

There is absolutely no way that a court would award her $37M. It is a ridiculous claim. Probably one made in spite because the negotiations between the plaintiff and defendant have broken down. So I reckon Pedro is right about that.

But I can't imagine that DJ's are advising their lawyers to settle quickly. They'll bunker down and play hard ball. I would if I were them.

This'll probably die a natural death and we'll never hear of the confidential and paltry sum that it eventually settles for. And out of the settlement, the lawyers will get paid and the plaintiff will get what's left of the rest.

I'm cynical too, Ben.

Pedro said...

And its funny how most people feel the same way yet they seem to be the most required legal component of everything we do.
No one likes them or dealing with them but we (our society) has become so driven by litigation.

Ben McLaughlin said...

Gosh Al, I see you in a whole new light now.

Alistair Bain said...

A darker light?

Ben McLaughlin said...

My lawyers have advised me not to comment.

Alistair Bain said...

Typical.