Hero one day, goat the next.

Scruggs was simply trying to level the scales in Lady Justice's arms. On one side you have State Farm, Allstate and whatnot piling up the cash to get a ruling that homeowners with hurricane insurance don't qualify if their home is destroyed by a "flood" resulting from a hurricane. On the other side is the richest trial lawyer in the country whose home was destroyed, knows how the /ahem/ "system" works, and has the cash to go toe-to-toe with the insurance industry.

It was a race for "justice".

The one who shoveled out the most cash won.

Take a bow State Farm et.al.

Litigators are scum.

Never had to sue anyone, have you, cupcake?

I'm an attorney, moron.

Litigators are scum.

Says the guy who helps people skirt their tax obligations for a living. You're trolling aren't you?

In the wise words of Learned Hand:

"Anyone may arrange his affairs so that his taxes shall be as low as possible; he is not bound to choose that pattern which best pays the treasury. There is not even a patriotic duty to increase one's taxes. Over and over again the Courts have said that there is nothing sinister in so arranging affairs as to keep taxes as low as possible. Everyone does it, rich and poor alike and all do right, for nobody owes any public duty to pay more than the law demands."

Gregory v. Helvering 69 F.2d 809, 810 (2d Cir. 1934), aff'd, 293 U.S. 465, 55 S.Ct. 266, 79 L.Ed. 596 (1935)

there is nothing sinister in so arranging affairs as to keep taxes as low as possible

Agreed. Just as there's nothing sinister about suing someone to collect on a promissory note, or filing a lawsuit for trade defamation. Nothing about the quote you posted would suggest that tax attorneys are any more noble than any other type of attorney.

Nothing about the quote you posted would suggest that tax attorneys are any more noble than any other type of attorney

That wasn't the point of the quote. You implied there is something sinister about tax planning. The quote simply refutes that.

"Uncommon is the man when given the opportunity for fame and fortune through self-interest will instead choose integrity and righteousness in silence behind closed doors".

This man hounded an old man to his grave. I wish Mr. Beckwith could know what happened. Have fun in prison you lying crook.

Beckwith was a murderer, Do you think he deserved to get off?

Over and over again the Courts have said that there is nothing sinister in so arranging affairs as to keep taxes as low as possible.

Legal precedent doesn't make it right, it just makes it legal.

What an arrogant fool. He accomplished so much until he let greed cloud his honor.

You implied there is something sinister about tax planning. The quote simply refutes that.

I agree with the quote. That doesn't mean tax attorneys aren't any less scummy than other attorneys.

I'm an attorney, moron.

#5 | Posted by taxman

"I'm an attorney, moron.

#5 | Posted by taxman"

I'm not your client, dumbfuck.

"Litigators are scum."

Says the guy who helps people skirt their tax obligations for a living. You're trolling aren't you?
#6 | Posted by JOE at 2010-01-05 01:26 PM

DUDE - the Blackwater employees were guilty of murder but you were hot for protecting their alleged fifth amendment rights due to severance?! Put your "morals' back in your pants.

"Dude." Protecting 5th Amendment rights that were clearly violated by prosecutors has nothing to do with "morals." Grow a fucking brain.

"Dude." Protecting 5th Amendment rights that were clearly violated by prosecutors has nothing to do with "morals." Grow a fucking brain.
#19 | Posted by joe at 2010-01-05 04:53 PM

The allegations of murder have much to do with morals. Bitching about "helping evade taxes" isn't either? Cheeky monkey.

I support the 5th Amendment regardless of the allegations. My support for our Constitution has nothing to do with "morals."

The fact that you continue to focus on the underlying allegations rather than the Constitution itself is a symptom of your emotional reaction to the story in lieu a logic-based response. You have a hard-on for Blackwater, and the story makes you mad, so you whine and cry about MURDER hoping to get someone's attention.

The Judge knew the allegations were murder, and he rightly dismissed the case. And if you had a brain and read the 90-page opinion I linked you to, perhaps you'd have shut the fuck up already.

To put it another way, I don't condone murder any more than I condone tax evasion. You can support the dismissal of a case on Constitutional grounds without expressing support for what the perpetrators allegedly did.

To put it another way, I don't condone murder any more than I condone tax evasion. You can support the dismissal of a case on Constitutional grounds without expressing support for what the perpetrators allegedly did.
#22 | Posted by JOE at 2010-01-05 07:17 PM

To support Constitutionally miss-applied "logic-based response" is still illogical. I ended up with a lot on my plate - eight computers required my attention as a spate of trojan virus has been suddenly infecting everyone. Even Facebook has one now.

The brief was not-so brief, and then I gave up. You will never concede moral obligation and would rather read the letter of the law - which in the case of Blackwater was purposefully maligned by prosecution, imo. Don't get me wrong - I appreciate all of your data and your input is awesome (other than questioning others intellect appears to stem from something else). You are the first person I consider reading if there is any legal complexity, so I don't doubt your intelligence whatsoever. I also never doubt your ability to interpret law, but I disdain your results because you are right - I'm emotional and potentially illogical when it comes to the legality of failed justice.

As for how I act toward the private contractors - I absolutely do have a hard-on for Blackwater - they are an obvious example of corruption at it's highest plateau yet - private military exonerated from "law" and perpetuated by "law". We may even have a similar respect for upholding a legal system, but our view of it's purposes and results are entirely different.

"Litigators are scum.
#3 | Posted by taxman"

Douche Flag for you, Taxboy. Your generalization is idiotic for a layperson to make. A self-proclaimed attorney making it is even more idiotic.

FTA: Evers blasted prosecutors for offering immunity to Ed Peters, DeLaughter's mentor who avoided jail time even though he was the one accepting illicit payments. "The man who squealed on him should be going to jail," Evers said.

So Peters was the one who solicited and got the bribe money but because he took a plea deal (which should have never been offered) Peters walks and Bobby DeLaughter is now going to prison essentially for lying to FBI in order to help protect a man he thought of as a friend and mentor?

That pretty much wot we're talking about here?

*facepalm*

Wotta clusterfuck.

Wotta miscarriage of justice.

Be Well.

If I ever met Charlie Evers I would ask him What's up my nigga?

Your title is wrong. 'Mississippi Burning' is a film that has to do with the famous murder of three Civil Rights Lawyers. 'Ghosts of Mississippi' was the film that had Alec Baldwin playing this guy.

Well, Jasper beat me to it. Good eye.