Lawyer

• As actor Hugh Grant’s decision to settle his privacy claim against News Group Newspapers (NGN) shows, sometimes principles just cost too much.
• Grant announced he had reluctantly accepted an “enormous sum of money” to settle his claim against the Murdoch-owned NGN, the publisher of The Sun.
• He has accused the publisher of “phone hacking, unlawful information gathering” and “landline tapping” among other allegations, which they have denied.
• If he took the case to trial, he risked being ordered to pay NGN’s legal costs, which his lawyers advised could exceed £10 million.

What is a trial worth?

• They avoid the costs, stress and delay of a trial, and the court service is better able to cope with the high volume of other cases in the system.
• It is clear from Grant’s statements that his motivation was to hold NGN to account for unlawful information gathering.

Holding companies to account

• There is arguably a balance to be struck between the individualistic view of this case as just an issue between one person and a media company, and the wider public interest angle: that it should be possible to use the court system to hold big companies to account.
• There has always been an element of bigger companies using their deep pockets in litigation, but this rule adds another layer of protection for those that can afford to make a generous offer.

Megan Shirley does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

• In a series of social media posts, the former president personally attacked the daughter of the judge presiding over his criminal trial in New York state.
• In response, Trump has reportedly filed a lawsuit directly against the judge, though the exact claims remain under seal with the court.
• Trump’s attacks on Merchan and his daughter are just the latest in his long effort to undermine the rule of law.

Trump’s playbook

• To do this, Trump has been following a fairly consistent playbook in his attacks on the judges, court staff, witnesses and opposing lawyers involved in his many civil and criminal trials.
• First, he attacks those whom he claims are his political enemies, alleging that the various lawsuits and criminal charges brought against him are politically motivated and a form of election interference.
• This allows him to frame the cases in a politically advantageous way by portraying himself as the victim, seeking the support and sympathy of his electoral base.
• They also violate the ethical standards that all previous presidents have followed when discussing court decisions in public.

Trump’s attacks undermine the rule of law

• In addition to putting the judges overseeing Trump’s many trials between a rock and a hard place, Trump’s attacks on judges, lawyers, court staff and witnesses also undermine the public’s faith in the rule of law and judicial institutions.
• First, the judicial branch depends upon faith in the rule of law to ensure the public respects, and follows, its decisions.
• In turn, people may be more likely to defy judicial decisions and less likely to cooperate with law enforcement.

Trump’s attacks put people at risk

• Another serious consequence of Trump’s personal attacks on judges and their families, lawyers and court personnel is that it puts those people’s safety at risk.
• Marshals Service, which is charged with protecting judges and their staff, the number of credible threats against court personnel is at an all-time high.
• If these attacks continue, I believe they are likely to further undermine the justice system, and American democracy itself.

Paul M. Collins Jr. does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

• The cases are international and have been thoroughly investigated by Legal Finance.
• Legal Finance finances international legal disputes, litigation and claims and participates in the success of the proceedings.
• A settlement saves Legal Finance further (sometimes substantial) legal costs and is often a greater success than winning a case.
• Legal Finance is also constantly considering new cases for funding, including international cases, in a variety of areas of law.

• Scottsdale, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - March 18, 2024) - Greenbriar Sustainable Living Inc. (TSXV: GRB) (OTC Pink: GEBRF) ("Greenbriar" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the schedule to break ground on Sage Ranch will be within the month of April, 2024.
• The TCCWD stated during multiple settlement talks that their issue was what the city additionally permits after Sage Ranch.
• In addition, the president of the TCCWD board tried to buy a portion of the original Sage Ranch from Greenbriar in 2017.
• Greenbriar said no, and the current TCCWD president was denied owning a piece of Sage Ranch.