The other day I was listening to an old podcast of the Joe Rogan Experience, hosting carpenter-actor-comedian-pod caster Adam Carolla. They were exchanging ideas about earlier lawsuit Adam got out of, after spending half a million dollars in lawyer fees. This naturally led to discussion about lawyers, the system, people suing successful people, divorce cases, friends-and-relatives influencing spouses to lawyer up, etc.
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| Gandhi photos mine; other 2 from YouTube |
This reminded me of Gandhi's views about lawyers, which he published in 1908 in his Hind Swaraj. The topics in it are presented in a format of a reader's questions answered by the editor.
PDF - Hind Swaraj - M K Gandhi - 1908
In Chapter 11, Gandhi has explained his views of laywers, paraphrased here are as follows.
- Lawyers are persons; there is good in everyone; good work done by lawyers is mostly because of their individual goodness, rather than due to them being a lawyer.
- He argues that it is in lawyers' interest to keep extending the disputes, rather than close the lawsuits with an agreement.
- He points out that we, the people, are ignorant in thinking a stranger taking money from us will give us justice!
Fast forward from 1908 to 100 years later - 21st century USA. Here is link to Joe Rogan Experience episode 622 (please be warned of adult /swearing language).
Joe Rogan Experience - #622 - Adam Carolla
Around 32:55 into the discussion in above podcast, for about 15 minutes, Adam Carolla explains lawsuit he faced & how he could finally use his podcast / power of microphone for it to go away.
- In my opinion it was a trivial or even unjust case brought against Adam in terms of Intellectual Property (explanation of the case actually from 42:00 onward approx).
- Joe chimed in saying that in general, it was in interest of the lawyers on both sides to not come to an agreement, keep extending the case, and earn more fees.
- Adam also brought up the scenarios where a couple who are coming to a mutual consent divorce are usually convinced by relatives or friends to engage lawyers.
- Though both spouses are happy for mutual consent, they convince one or other, that the lawyer engagement is to protect themselves
- Such engagement of lawyers leads to worse settlement, probably for both parties, as per the discussion.
- Joe also brought up the scenario of Phil Hartman's views of lawyer fees and divorce settlement he did not want to pay up.
- Later at 1:14:30 Adam points out that Government / Justice system should help people from getting sued for silly things. Also, how everything would be cheaper if everyone was not "lawyering" up to safe guard themselves in this "modern" system.
I wanted to highlight the pattern that humans everywhere seem to be wired the same way (as also mentioned by Joe & Adam). How can I get something out of a weakness, or situation, if the other party can afford it - by just technicalities and harassment.
We in India mostly write these systemic issues off to Karma, Kaliyuga effects, etc.
PS: I have had heard only good things with respect to the lawyer friends I have; but have heard of struggles of other friends who had trouble with squatters in their property, which had to go through courts.
PPS: The photos of Gandhi statues are my own, while those of Joe Rogan and Adam Carolla are taken from the said YouTube video (link above). Hopefully I will not be sued for this transgression without permission.
