Robin Cook draws on his medical knowledge as an ophthalmologist to weave in realistic details. But don’t get him started on plaintiff medical malpractice attorneys. He has nothing good to say about them. In Harmful Intent, the book I just finished reading, he is positively vitriolic about them.
Lots of Myths about Plaintiff Attorneys
In the over 28 years I have been a legal nurse consultant, I quickly came to realize there are a lot of myths about plaintiff attorneys. I learned about the many ways they’ve made our lives safer by tackling dangerous products and practices. For example, after a child was crushed by a garage door, the plaintiff attorneys made sure the door manufacturers were forced to put in a feature that makes the door stop when it encounters an obstacle.
I used to think plaintiff attorneys lurked in the hospital corridors just waiting to catch someone making a mistake. I now know they have their hands full just trying to sift through the hundreds of calls they get from potential plaintiffs.
More Myths about Plaintiff Attorneys
Consider what Wayne Schoeneberg, a plaintiff attorney, says about his colleagues:
Myth: Plaintiff attorneys are confident and secure.
Wayne says, “Attorneys are insecure. We know people don’t like us. When we go to networking events or cocktail parties and people ask us what we do, we all hesitate just for a second inside before we say we’re an attorney because invariably people get this look on their face like they just stepped in dog poop.
“Attorneys are like members of Congress. Everybody likes their own attorney, but they hate all other attorneys. Trial attorneys are the most insecure of all.
“I have people who come up to me frequently and say, ‘Gee, you’re one of the most fearless people I know.’ I’ve just come to learn how to deal with fear. I still have fear. When I’m standing at a counsel’s table and I have the fate of someone’s future in my hands does it play on my mind? Yes.
Do I momentarily look around and go ‘Oh man, what am I doing?’ Yes.
“Trial attorneys are constantly looking for affirmation. You need to know this when you’re dealing with them. It doesn’t make them good or bad. It’s just who they are. You would think. “Wow, that guy is really confident. That guy is really secure, charges ahead and everything.” But I want you to look at that person, that next lawyer you deal with who looks that way to you and understand these truths. You’re dealing with an insecure person.”
Don’t buy into the myths about plaintiff attorneys. Sharpen your ability to communicate with them and market to them by listening to more of Attorney Wayne Schoeneberg’s fresh perspective. Wayne and Pat presented a 4 session course which is now available on demand. Get insider tips on how to deal with your fear and confidence issues, communicate with your clients, effectively market to them and testify for them. Get the course How to Live Beyond Fear at this link. http://legalnursebusiness.com/webinars/how-to-live-beyond-fear-secrets-for-legal-nurse-consultants/
It is going to be awhile before I am ready to tackle another one of Robin Cook’s books, particularly one with myths about plaintiff attorneys.
Pat Iyer is an avid reader. She reads at least 2-3 fiction or business development books a week.