That in fact, I'd written lawyer or a variant of, at least six times in my prior article about this situation. And truly, I think that's what made him upset. You see, he's a lawyer, but a good lawyer, not a bad lawyer. So when I say lawyer, and then ask him for free legal advice, I'd better not use toss the word lawyer out there like it's a dead fish.
So here's what I think about Andrew Speaker's flight of denial as he flew around Europe, Canada and back into the US.I don't believe Mr. Speaker or his father have shown an ounce of remorse. Instead, they've both offered excuses. He and his father are personal injury attorneys. I get the feeling they're the sort that give lawyers a bad rap. Anyway, I think they're twisting words. "We prefer you to not travel," when coming from a physician who is treating you for TB (and has been since April) means, "Don't Travel." When they admitted that they couldn't stop him from going, but hoped he'd listen to reason, they still meant, "We really don't want you to travel."
He's certainly not a sympathetic character. He put himself above every person in the world. His reasoning for not chartering a plane was slim --expense? Well, let's put 100k into perspective. Let's say Mr. Speaker has a lawyer car --a BMW, a Mercedes, if he's cheap... an Audi. That's at least 40 - 50k just to drive over and back to the 7-11 and buy a Big Gulp.So comparatively, 100k for a private jet to get him to the best TB treatment
center in the US is a bargain. Between him and his Dad, they could have charged that sucker, put it on the Visa and worried about it later. I mean, isn't this what debt is for? Stuff like this? Or aren't they lawy... oh, forget it.Anyway, if he stayed in Italy, he wouldn't have lost his job. No, that doesn't happen when you're in business with Dad. At the very worst, he could've trucked in a bunch of CD's and learned Italian. He could have set up Wi-fi and set up a myspace with a webcam. He could have read all of Umberto Eco, listened to Opera.
He could've watched six months of Fellini. Yes, La Dolce Vita over and over again.
No matter how one parses the words, Mr. Speaker made a bad choice.
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This is one news story I actually read, and I could not get over it. Who in the world would be so selfish as to jeopardize the lives of so many people for his own personal convenience? And a personal injury lawyer? If any of his fellow passengers happen to catch his virulent strain of TB, can you imagine what a field day they are going to have with lawsuits? I hate the litigous society we live in, but even I would sue him for what he did -- and I'd go for broke, too.
He's caused a lot of people to have to take time off work to get tested, and pay for the testing.
He's such a jerk. That Diane Sawyer saw fit to go talk to him didn't win him any points with me.
Very, VERY selfish. His Dad is just as bad.
My grandfather was a lawyer, and I am told that he was scrupulously honest. But people would tell the grandchildren that, wouldn't they?
Quite apart from that, I know two honest, ethical lawyers who went into their chosen fields to help improve the world instead of line their own pockets. One I've known practically all of my life, and the other I've known since I was twenty-five. They have remained dedicated to their respective causes and are both touchingly compassionate and have a strong sense of morality. Do you think I could get my name in the Guinness Book of World Records for being able to make that claim?
Oh, the majority of lawyers are honest, ethical and have an incredible amount of common sense and the ability to negotiate.
And maybe it's the ones who should never have gone into the law who manage to screw it up for all the others.
Like the US Atty. General Alberto Gonzalez, who really should've gone into selling Amway or something.
As for Andrew Speaker... I don't know how anyone can feel too sorry for him now.
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