Greenberg ?Terrorists' Comment Outrages Lawyers

By Michael Ha

NU Online News Service, Feb. 26, 2:06 p.m. EST?

The Association of Trial Lawyers of America in Washington, D.C.,said by his comments Mr. Greenberg was "trivializing" the Sept. 11terrorist attack and issued a statement demanding a retraction andan apology from Mr. Greenberg. The American Bar Association, basedin Washington, D.C., also criticized the AIG Chairman'scomments.

Mr. Greenberg made his controversial remarks on Tuesday at theChief Executives' Club of Boston, part of Boston College's CarrollSchool of Management. During his luncheon speech, Mr. Greenbergblasted lawyers opposed to tort reform as "terrorists," accordingto Tina Rice, assistant director for the Club, which sponsored histalk.

Mr. Greenberg said also that combating tort-reform opponents is"like fighting the war on terrorists," and he condemned plaintifflawyers' practice of venue shopping to find favorable jurisdictionswhere juries and judges provide massive awards.

Defendants in such situations "get raped" by the legal process,he remarked. "I call the plaintiff's bar terrorists," Mr. Greenbergsaid at the luncheon, according to Ms. Rice. AIG declined tocomment or elaborate on Mr. Greenberg's remarks.

In their open letter to Mr. Greenberg, the Association of TrialLawyers stated, "As the CEO of AIG, one of the largest insuranceconglomerates in the world, you have a reputation for colorfuloutspokenness, but your condemnation of trial lawyers as?terrorists' steps over the line. Way over the line.

"You owe an apology to the American people, as well as to triallawyers, for trivializing the assaults on our society Sept. 11,2001. It was an attack on our way of life, including on ourconstitutionally guaranteed legal system and right to trial byjury, which are the envy of every other country in the world."

The group also told Mr. Greenberg in its letter that "while youand your corporate allies have been spending and lobbyingrelentlessly to undermine the fairest legal system in the world andtake away the legal rights of American families in the name ofso-called 'tort reform,' trial lawyers have put their time, theirtalents and their experience on the line to help the victims of thereal terrorists?all for free.

"Our work with these wonderful families has been a profoundlyhumbling and gratifying experience for all of us?the best way thatwe, as lawyers, could help our nation heal the wounds from thatterrible day and help the victims of the terrorists who attackedAmerica on September 11th. And now you label us 'terrorists.' Forshame, Mr. Greenberg," the group said.

Dennis Archer, president of the American Bar Association, thelargest group of lawyers in the country, also blasted Mr.Greenberg's comments: "Suggesting any similarity betweenlawyers?any lawyers?and terrorists demonstrates an appalling lackof appreciation for the role of law and lawyers in our society,"Mr. Archer said.

He added: "Maurice Greenberg's statements show a shamefuldisregard for the harm suffered by victims of genuine terrorism.They also demonstrate the disregard and denial of responsibilitythat is sometimes apparent in defendants of class actionlitigation, and that forces the victims of negligence or otherkinds of wrongdoing to resort to the courts."

To deny the legitimacy of millions of people who rely on thecourts for compensation for real injuries, and to label theiradvocates as akin to terrorists, "is irresponsible in the extreme,"Mr. Archer said.