Kentucky Fen-Phen Verdict Against Plaintiffs' Lawyers Is Justice Served for America's...

Kentucky Fen-Phen Verdict Against Plaintiffs' Lawyers Is Justice Served for
America's Lawsuit System

U.S. Chamber commends jury for guilty verdict, disgorgement of $30 million

WASHINGTON, April 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Statement of Lisa A. Rickard,
president of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, on the conviction of
William Gallion and Shirley Cunningham Jr. for stealing millions of dollars
from their own clients:

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080919/USCHAMBERLOGO)

"Friday's guilty verdict in the case of William Gallion and Shirley Cunningham
Jr. and today's decision to disgorge $30 million wrongfully gained should send
a message to some in the plaintiffs' bar that justice is about putting their
clients' interests first, not about advancing their own self-interest.

"Unfortunately, many class action lawsuits, which are routinely originated by
lawyers with little or no consultation with their clients, are very vulnerable
to this type of fraud and abuse. In just over the past year, some of the
biggest names in the plaintiffs' bar have been convicted or pled guilty to
criminal acts that have benefited them financially to the detriment of
shareholders, their clients and even other plaintiffs' lawyers.

"Last Friday's conviction and today's decision will hopefully send a message
that justice is never served when lawyers are enriched at the expense of their
own clients."

ILR seeks to promote civil justice reform through legislative, political,
judicial and educational activities at the national, state and local levels.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation,
representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size,
sector, and region.

www.uschamber.com
http://www.instituteforlegalreform.com/

SOURCE U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform

Mark Szymanski of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform,
+1-202-463-5874