{"product_id":"9780312331191","title":"The Rule of Lawyers : How the New Litigation Elite Threatens America's Rule of Law","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eThe Rule of Lawyers\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor(s): Walter K. Olson\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eBig-ticket litigation is becoming a way of life in this country. But something new is afoot-something typified by the $246 billion tobacco settlement, and by other courtroom assaults against companies producing guns, cars, breast implants, asbestos, lead paint, and more. Each massive class-action suit seeks to invent new law, to ban, tax, or regulate something that elected lawmakers had chosen to leave alone. And each time the new attack process works as intended, the new litigation elite reaps billions in fees-which they invest in fresh rounds of suits, as well as political contributions.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Rule of Lawyers\u003c\/i\u003e asks: Who picks these lawyers, and who can fire them? Who protects the public's interest when settlements are negotiated behind closed doors? Where are our elected lawmakers in all this?  The answers may determine whether we slip from the rule of law to the rule of lawyers.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReview(s):\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e“A truly gripping read about tort lawyers...a brilliant expose of the way courts are being overwhelmed by mass tort actions.” —Robert Lenzner, \u003ci\u003eForbes.com\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Walter Olson lays out an entertaining, but disturbing chronicle of class-action abuses.” —David A. Price, \u003ci\u003eThe Wall Street Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“With a marvelous combination of irony, insight and outrage, Olson covers the whole range of opportunistic litigation over tobacco, asbestos, breast-implants, autos and guns....Olson even proposes sensible ways of reforming the jury system that might actually make a difference.” —Gene Epstein, \u003ci\u003eBarron's\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Even lawyers, however, will find [\u003ci\u003eThe Rule of Lawyers\u003c\/i\u003e] a tasty snack.” —Peter Schuck, \u003ci\u003eThe New York Law Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN:  9780312331191\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ","brand":"St. Martin's Griffin","offers":[{"title":"Paperback \/ softback","offer_id":40673465204942,"sku":"9780312331191","price":27.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0600\/7029\/7806\/products\/getimage_4c2159b4-2b4d-4825-8d3f-020f29d801b2.jpg?v=1639884537","url":"https:\/\/pickwickbookshop.com\/products\/9780312331191","provider":"Pickwick Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}