Appearance
The King of Torts
Mention the name "John Grisham" to most readers and the image of a courtroom populated by two lawyers, one honest and one corrupt, quickly comes to mind. That image may not, however, be completely correct. Since his appearance as a novelist in 1991, Grisham has annually produced a best-selling work. In those efforts, he wanders in and out of the courtroom and spends a great deal of time away from the law. While his major characters are often attorneys, they frequently find themselves in predicaments that bear only an incidental connection to the legal profession. Previous Grisham efforts such as THE FIRM, THE BRETHREN and, to a degree, THE PELICAN BRIEF and THE SUMMONS, represent plot lines in which the main characters could easily be non-lawyers without significant impact on the narrative.Whether one considers Grisham a courtroom or mystery writer, it is clear in his writing that, as a former practicing attorney, he has much to offer about the strengths and failings of the American legal system. In his books, Grisham has taken to task politically motivated prosecutors, the flawed juvenile justice system, the health insurance and tobacco industries and insurance defense attorneys. Last year, in THE SUMMONS, Grisham had some unkind words for those members of the legal profession often pejoratively referred to as "trial lawyers". Now, in THE KING OF TORTS, Grisham returns to this subject and sets his sights on that particular aspect of trial law very much in discussion today --- the field of mass tort litigation.THE KING OF TORTS follows the winning Grisham formula. Early in the novel, an insignificant crime of violence introduces us to Jarrett Clay Carter II. Young Carter is an overworked, underpaid and under-appreciated public defender in the District of Columbia. He is appointed to represent Tequila Watson, a career drug offender charged with the murder of Ramon "Pumpkin" Pumphrey. Like many of Grisham's young lawyer heroes, Clay Carter is at the juncture of his life when he has begun to question his status in the legal system.THE KING OF TORTS is the Faustian tale of Carter's meteoric rise to the top of the field of mass tort litigation. Shortly after his appointment to represent Watson, Max Pace, a man of mystery and intrigue, visits Carter. He offers the young attorney the opportunity to initiate litigation against a drug manufacturer who has negligently produced a product that causes people to kill. Although Clay Carter has countless questions and concerns, Pace's simple answer is always to remind him of the millions of dollars in legal fees that will soon be deposited in the accounts of the new law firm that Carter will control. That answer is sufficient.In the span of several months, Carter becomes the beneficiary of nearly $100 million in fees. Such an achievement is most ironic when one considers that never during the course of his spectacular achievement does Carter even enter a courtroom. Indeed, his only venture inside a courthouse during the course of this novel occurs when Carter watches one of his fellow attorneys attempt to win a case that will produce millions of dollars in fees for Carter and his firm.In his meteoric rise, Clay Carter becomes a member of an exclusive club of trial attorneys who engage in mass tort litigation, often referred to as class actions. In these types of cases, thousands of injured parties are grouped together to bring their claims. Oftentimes, small claims in the range of $25,000 to $50,000 are bundled together. The main beneficiaries of such activity are the attorneys who generate large legal fees from settlements in thousands of cases without being forced to handle each case on an individual basis. Attorneys in this field often obtain clients by advertisements in newspapers, radio and television. Because successful mass tort lawyers obtain their cash awards from huge corporations, the entire subject has become a high stakes political contest between the business and legal communities.The major character in THE KING OF TORTS is not Clay Carter. Rather, the attorneys who engage in mass tort litigation are the prime targets for Grisham's wrath. As they fly around the country ferreting out clients like bloodhounds hunting down criminals, Grisham enjoys poking fun at their numerous foibles. They are far more interested in fancy private jets, beautiful women, vintage wine and high-class living than in securing justice. John Grisham, a man who practiced law for several years before commencing his writing career, does not find such characters to be an asset to the legal profession.THE KING OF TORTS is a prime example of the adage that, in novels, "Plot trumps the truth." In order to make the novel work, Grisham must compress a great deal of action into a short amount of time. Anyone with a minimal knowledge of the workings of the American legal system knows that what John Grisham has written is hyperbolic. But Grisham has written with a message. The debate in America today over "tort reform" and the "malpractice crisis" is continuing and clamorous. Although it is a work of fiction, THE KING OF TORTS can help enhance the quality of that debate. Anyone interested in the issue, or just interested in another appealing novel, will enjoy John Grisham's latest effort.--- Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman
The King of Torts
Are you sure John Grisham wrote this book? It was so unlike his other books. It was so boring I started skipping pages to get to the "good part". Trust me - there isn't a "good part".
The King of Torts
I have read almost all of Grisham's books and have thoroughly enjoyed them. I started King of Torts expecting to have a good read. His stories do follow a formula, but it's usually interesting: good lawyer, bad lawyers, someone running for their life, and lots of money. As usual, his engaging style kept me turning pages, but I kept wondering when the plot was going to go somewhere. I could not believe it when I finished and realized that was all there was. So many story points headed in possibly exciting directions and not one of them panned out. I would say this book was a good first half of a novel. Unfortunately, it never comes to a climax or resolution. It's like telling a joke and forgeting the punchline. I was very disappointed. Was the whole thing about the evils of rapid wealth? If so, even that point was poorly made. I can't believe this got published. I hope Grisham puts a little more into his future works.
The King of Torts
It's been a while since I read a Grisham through, but I wasn't disappointed. How much is a soul worth, Grisham asks in this tale, with an even harder question whispering underneath,Who has to pay for it? Clay Carter decries his beatup Honda Accord, condescending would-be in-laws and deadend job. When saddled with a murder case, the public defender thinks things have really hit rock bottom.And he's right. But not for long. Enter a slick guy dressed in black and rippled with muscles, a corporate fireman who needs to silence Clay before he runs onto a secret that can destroy his client--and everything changes. Ten million everythings. Dragging his co-workers and roommate along for the ride, Clay gets sucked into the vaccuum of wealth over the next year, only to be spit out at the end, grasping the one thing that's eluded him despite his millions, a relationship with the girlfriend he loves.Though some describe this as fluff or boring, I urge them to read between the lines. The background cast of THE KING OF TORTS is just as important as the main cast. Tequila Watson, Ramon Pumphrey, the Hannas and definitely the Worleys all give a picture of the reality of tort litigation, drug companies and the criminal justice system. It's not just about the writing, but the thinking the writing makes you do. :)
The King of Torts
I've read 5-6 Grisham novels and they usually keep my attention and interest. This one is the worst by far. Some have said this one was preachy in that it showed his disdain for these types of lawsuits and lawyers. I didn't get that -- it seemed to me that he was almost excusing them. After all, the main character never redeems himself. Furthermore, this novel seemed to just trudge along. Half the book is about the wealth and possessions Clay acquires. I mean literally -- he buys this, that and then some more of this and a building to put them in.... Zzzz...Also, the characters in this novel were very one dimensional and bland. The most interesting is Ridley, Clay's supermodel, trophy girlfriend!While I don't think the end is predictable (I was hoping the character would right some wrongs or go to jail) it is anticlimactic and disappointing. It is as if it is saying, "Clay did all this stuff wrong, hurt all these people, allowed an innocent man to go to jail for life, but Clay is okay in the end and that's what matters." I hope Grisham's next is better...of course in my opinion it won't be too hard.
The King of Torts
This has to be the worst story line Grisham has put into the public domain yet. I have read all his previous books and keenly anticipated another legal thriller but I could not actually bring myself to finish it.What multinational firm in their right mind would go out of their way to find, inform, compensate and then demand confidentiality of seven poor underprivileged familes that had no idea they were wronged and even if they ever did would never ever be able to prove it.An artificial set of circumstances and assumptions that have no basis what so ever in reality.There is a certain contempt of the reader in the stupidty of this story line.Sorry, just no good enough!