Tort law is one of the flashier areas that a lawyer can practice in. From the small time ambulance chasers to the big dogs that sue giant corporations, tort law has been and will continue to be a bread and butter area of practice. The tort courtroom has some interesting characters that come and stand before the podium. Perhaps none are more interesting than Attorneys Mark Lanier and Joe “King of Torts” Jamail, two tort lawyers who stand at diametrically opposite positions. The King of Torts earned his name perhaps through winning one of the largest tort damage awards of all time, while Mark Lanier has made his name through years of plaintiff’s work, suing companies such as Vioxx and earning millions, cementing his place as one of the top ten trial lawyers in the US and one of the top 100 most influential attorneys of all time. His tactics are still used today by many class action lawyers, who have been successful as well.  

The two have met in the courtroom before, and their recounts of their first meeting are priceless. Whereas Lanier evinces a calm and collected gravitas, Jamail is the lawyer equivalent of John Wayne. Each of them are highly skilled trial lawyers in their own right, even if their styles don’t necessarily match up. There is a bit of a “young blood” v. “Old School” battle going on here, perhaps eventually leading the way for a new King of Torts to be crowned. Below are some teaser clips that introduce Lanier and Jamail which might prove interesting to a new 1L trying to figure his way through the legal ropes. But even if you aren’t entrenched in the legal profession, the clips are worthwhile for their information and entertainment value (Mr. Jamail’s deposition tactics specifically). Enjoy!

Mark Lanier Introduction (As seen on “A Lawyer Walks Into A Bar“)

King of Torts Deposition Style