Brilliant Houston trial lawyer John O’Quinn strikes again.
Update: Dylan over at Slithery D observes that Mr. O’Quinn’s formidable talents are often misdirected.
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“Brilliant” is one way to put it, I suppose.
D, I have no illusions about Mr. O’Quinn professionally. However, I have been involved in a number of cases with him over the years, and he is undeniably a brilliant trial lawyer.
I agree to the extent that Hitler was a brilliant orator. I suppose misuse of talent doesn’t mean the talent itself is any less noteworthy.
A) How could he better use his talents? Quinn is not responsible for the market failure of Wyeth to hire him and pay him full value for his services. Under the free market principles espoused by this website, Wyeth should have long ago used part of the $16 billion to hire a decent bunch of lawyers, including Quinn, to defend the company. If, for example, no other lawyer could have gotten a $50 million verdict, Wyeth could have paid $500 million to Quinn to defend the case and still had $500 million left over. The Yankees understand talent; what shouldn’t we expect as much from Wyeth.
Well, from an institutional standpoint, I don’t think Wyeth is prepared to pay O’Quinn what he would demand to represent Wyeth. To put it mildly, John’s hourly rate is off the charts. ;^)
Slithery D’s makes a valid point that O’Quinn has not always used his talents for the best purpose, I do marvel at O’Quinn’s courtroom talent. His ability to connect with juries is simply something to behold. If he had not become a trial lawyer, he could have been a phenomenal actor.
Let’s see him hold onto the verdict. O’Quinn is amazing, but it was Beaumont.
Good point, Milton. My understanding is that Wyeth hedged the risk of the litigation prior to trial with some partial pre-trial settlements. Moreover, it looks like the jury verdict on punitives should clearly be set aside. But you are right — O’Quinn is flat out amazing in front of juries.
“but it was Beaumont”
you’re right–all my billion dollar verdicts count for nothing, having all been achieved before the Supreme Court of Willow Springs and Houston
there is some word for this kind of comment–just doesn’t spring from the keyboard, tonight