“public interest” law
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/11/garden…
Mr. Phillips, now 64, could afford to buy and renovate the [ entire 5-acre Italian village ] after decades as a public interest lawyer, during which he earned cuts of the considerable money that he helped recover for the California and federal governments from contractors accused of corruption.
Wonderful phrasing.
If you know how to read the code, it says so much:
“contractors accused of corruption” – so the cases never went to trial.
“public interest lawyer” – leftist shake-down artist, going after profitable companies.
“could afford to buy and renovate the [ entire 5-acre Italian village ]” – he’s made hundreds of millions, or more, off of shaking down companies.
But before Mr. Phillips could remake the borgo, he had to face the formidable hurdle of the Italian government’s historic preservation entities, which had declared it a “place of special significance.” He shrewdly hired Amalia Agnelli, a former head of the preservation committee here in Buonconvento, as his architect.
So he poured cash into the pockets of an ex-government official, who still has all of her old ties to the power structure…thus allowing Phillips to buy privileges unavailable to those not connected to the power structure.
Mr. Phillips also requested some very unborgo-like features, including a gym and an 18-car garage that Ms. Agnelli buried under the lawn
You just know that this guy is in favor of income taxes that sock the middle class and is also a fan of the Kyoto treaty (because the little people, what with all their commuting, and driving the kids to soccer, are just choking the atmosphere).
More details here:
http://www.jphillipslaw.com/phillips.htm…
John W. Phillips John Phillips has practiced for twenty-three years as a trial and appellate lawyer with significant experience and expertise in mass tort product liability, consumer class actions and environmental exposure cases.
I believe that this is the relevant list of shake-downs.
