Alright, alright, so this article's about some 91-year-old lawyer still grinding away. Morton Shuman, apparently. The guy's been at it for, like, 65 years? Give me a break.
The "Compassion" Angle
They're pushing this angle about compassion, about helping people. Seriously? Look, I'm not saying the guy's a monster, but let's be real: lawyers ain't exactly known for their bleeding hearts. It's a business, plain and simple. He probably just likes winning, and maybe the money ain't bad either.
"Driven to do this," he says. Yeah, driven by billable hours, maybe? Just saying.
And this line about him being honored for his "lifelong dedication to the civil justice system"... Sounds like PR fluff to me. What does that even MEAN? Is civil justice ACTUALLY being served, or is it just a fancy way of saying he knows how to work the system to get a payout?
The article mentions he won some "landmark case" expanding benefits for injured workers. Okay, good for him. But how many cases did he LOSE? How many people got screwed over by the fine print while he was busy patting himself on the back? They don't tell you that part, do they? You can read more about his career in Even at 91, no end in sight for Framingham attorney’s quest for justice.
The "Pioneer" Claim
Oh, and he calls himself a "pioneer" because he opened branch offices after the Supreme Court let lawyers advertise? So brave. So revolutionary. It's called capitalism, dude. You saw an opportunity to make more money, and you took it. Nothing wrong with that, but don't act like you're Rosa Parks on a bus.
What's with the comparison to James Sokolove, the TV commercial guy? Shuman says he's "less of a household name." Is that, like, a humblebrag? "Yeah, I'm not as famous as that other ambulance chaser, but I'm still pretty damn good."
He started on the defense side, working for insurance companies. "I wanted to know how insurance companies thought about how they dealt with these cases," Shuman explains. So, he learned how to screw people over from the inside, then switched sides? That's... cynical even for me.
Offcourse, the article doesn't mention any ethical concerns about switching sides like that.
The "Inspiration" Narrative
So, this Shuman guy had a rough childhood. His dad died when he was 11, hit by a truck. Tragic, no doubt. But is that supposed to excuse everything else? Is that supposed to make me forget that he's still a lawyer, working in a system that's rigged against ordinary people?
And the article keeps hammering this point: Even at 91, he's still going. So? What's the implication? That we should all aspire to work until we drop dead? That retirement is for losers? I don't know about you, but I'd rather spend my golden years, you know, NOT working. Maybe that's just me.
They mention he's dealing with the after-effects of cancer treatment, neuropathy in his feet. "It’s no fun getting old, but you deal with it," he says. Yeah, well, dealing with it doesn't mean you have to keep squeezing every last drop out of the legal system. Maybe take a break, Mort. Enjoy some peace and quiet.
Then again, maybe I'm the crazy one here. Maybe this guy's actually a saint, fighting for the little guy against all odds. Maybe I'm just a bitter, cynical jerk who can't see the good in anything.
Nah.
So, What's the Catch?
This whole thing smells like a puff piece, designed to make him look good. Maybe he's got a book coming out? Or maybe he's just trying to drum up some more business before he kicks the bucket. Either way, I ain't buying it.
