No Contest: Corporate Lawyers and the Pervertion of Justice in America

by Ralph Nader and Wesley J. Smith

Book Overview

Ask any American, and he or she will tell you our legal system is in crisis. We point to frivolous, greedy lawsuits brought by bickering citizens, an abuse of self-serving appeals, and clogged... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0679429727
• ISBN13: 9780679429722
• Release Date: October 1996
• Publisher: Random House (NY)
• Length: 427 Pages
• Weight: 1.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.5" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Should Be Read By Every U.S. Citizen And Law Student

No Contest is an extremely well-researched and compelling view of corporate law structure and how it threatens to undermine basic Constitutional rights both subtly and "in the open". Nader and Smith do a fantastic job of documenting and analyzing case studies which reveal the world of power-lawyering and corruption. They give an especially strong case against tort reform and what to watch for in ordinary business transactions. Since this was released in 1996, I decided to check the Bureau of Justice statistics to see if many of the trends they describe still apply and as of the latest batch of statistics on Civil Justice compiled for review (2005), the trends still hold true today. Obviously we need more than just the Appleseed Foundation to fight for fair and equitable justice in this country... Great, informative read that every law student and adult U.S. citizen would do well to examine. Five stars was an easy choice for me on this one.

Essential for lawyers or anyone interested in justice

This is one of my favorite books I've read in recent years. It opens your eyes to the horrible tactics used by corporate lawyers to deny victims their full day in court. Also, Nader and Smith present bulletproof arguments against tort reform. You will learn a TON by reading this.

Required Reading for Law Students

As a law student, I have to say that this should be on every law students "must-read" list! Nader and Smith clearly describe the hardball ruthless tactics used by today's corporate lawyers. This is not the kind of stuff they teach you in law school!It took real guts and courage to expose the unethical tactics used by too many lawyers today, and I'm grateful that they did so. Highly recommended.

THOSE SUE-HAPPY CORPORATIONS

Beware of the multinational corporations. Not only do they stick it to the taxpayers in forms of bailouts, tax "incentives", and other similar accounts recievable, they are quite willing to stick it to citizens in court and screw up the meaning of the word "due process" in America and the world. A sad commentary on our justice system but a MUST READ.

important

No Contest book by Ralph Nader and Wesley Smith.... In their book No Contest by Ralph Nader and Wesley J. Smith, the authors give a series of examples about law at the corporate level. Many of their examples deal with wronged individuals suing a corporation. Frequently the plaintiffs are frustrated by a series of delays, misrepresentations, intentional misunderstandings, and multiple appeals. The judges do not discipline the lawyers, at least not to any effective extent, and the judges do not throw out frivolous motions. The judges tend to side with big law firms and with clever lines of reasoning, and not with the plaintiff. The original plaintiff injury, such as a wrongful death due to negligent corporate behavior, is forgotten in the mire of lawyer activity, and the judges fail to consider the need for relief of the plaintiff, without further anguishing delay. The plaintiff is faced with interminable costs and tedious delays without relief. There is no doubt reform is needed. ................ For a remedy, authors Nader and Wesley suggest an Appleseed Foundation, formed of local community volunteer groups, together with some overseeing coordinating committees. They mention Harvard graduates as playing a prominent behind the scenes part in overseeing reform. .............. The problem with this approach is: first, volunteerism, presumably without pay, is insufficient motivation to overcome such entrenched and profitable bad habits. Second, it is not clear just what specific steps these groups should recommend, other than complain, and point out injustices of which many persons are already aware. . Third, there are already volunteer groups (I have a list of over 20) around the country who are angry with their treatment by the law and yet who have not been able to bring about a change in habits.