Lawyer Cannibalism? Mmm, Tasty.

Legal clients everywhere owe Dallas lawyer Coyt Randal “Randy” Johnson a great debt. And some steak sauce. A few days ago, an arbitration panel ordered famed Houston trial lawyer John O’Quinn to pay almost $36 million to former clients, in a trend that Johnston calls lawyer cannibalism."When I started suing...

By Robert Wilonsky

July 24, 2007

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Legal clients everywhere owe Dallas lawyer Coyt Randal “Randy” Johnson a great debt. And some steak sauce. A few days ago, an arbitration panel ordered famed Houston trial lawyer John O’Quinn to pay almost $36 million to former clients, in a trend that Johnston calls lawyer cannibalism."When I started suing other lawyers in 1981, no one else wanted to do it,” Johnston told the Houston Chronicle. “But today, oh my God, everybody is competing for this business. They think it's a gold mine to sue other lawyers. The cannibalism metaphor really works here.”

Johnston has been a maverick for a long time. A songwriter and poet, Johnston wears his long hair in a ponytail, and over his picture on his fim's Web site he’s posted these lyrics from Woody Guthrie: “As through this world I ramble, I see lots of funny men. Some will rob you with a six-gun and some with a fountain pen.” --Glenna Whitley

Robert Wilonsky

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