f/k/a archives . . . real opinions & real haiku

    There is something here for everyone — from a compilation of the most significant legal problems faced by the Simpsons, and quotes from Lutz and Homer relevant to the status of lawyers in our society, to a discussion of hyper-irony as applied to lawyers.   I won’t tempt you to skip this assignment by quoting excessively from the article in this space.  However, I do want to point out, given my recent writings on lawyer marketing and branding, the author’s take on the subject (emphasis added):

Since the 1977 Supreme Court decision legalizing lawyer advertising,  the commercialization of legal practices has continued apace. Besides being sleazy in the traditional sense, Hutz represents the ultimate “consumerization” of law. He offices under the name “I Can’t Believe It’s a Law Firm!” in the Springfield Shopping Mall, an indication that legal services are really no different from groceries.

Similarly, his marketing efforts are akin to those of the shopping mall. In seeking Bart’s personal injury case, he tells Homer, “You’ll be getting more than just a lawyer, Mr. Simpson. You’ll also be getting this exquisite faux pearl necklace, a $99 value, as our gift to you.”

1. self-enforcing ethical rules, in the context of Rule 7.1(b) and creating unjustified expectations.
   
2. “the real problem of applying guild-like ethics to a consumer culture. Although both practiced law in a town called Springfield, the modern-day Hutz is a far cry from “Honest” Abe Lincoln.”
   
3. “our culture’s belief, based upon our TV lawyers, that the practice of law is really not all that complicated and that anyone could manage to maneuver the law.”
   
4. the difficulties for laypersons of appearing before an unsympathetic judge, and of cross-examination (e.g., of the Devil).
   
5. “the popular fear that in the legal process one’s future may be in the hands of lawyers like Hutz.”

The author concludes, “While there are not many Lionel Hutzes practicing, there is at least some of Lionel Hutz in too many lawyers. Moreover, with its ability both to attack targets like legal consumerism and incompetence and also to engage in Hyper-Irony, “The Simpsons” requires constant reexamination of all verities, including legal ones.” 

..  (semble)

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  For comprehensive materials about lawyer Hutz, see The Lionel Hutz File at The Simpsons Archive, which includes personal information, academic history, business ads [e.g., “Don’t wait, Litigate!”], and much more.  Also, see The Best of Lionel Hutz from OirishTimes.com ; and the Hutz listing in Encyclopeida4U.
  
  
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  Update (03-25-04): Even the tasteful and culturally-astute Fool in the Forest is using Simpsons tie-ins to pump up his page hits.  Hey, it works, even when we webloggers don’t.  As an added bonus, Fool Wallace educates and elucidates while expounding.

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   [T]he U.S. focused on Microsoft’s effort to eliminate rival web browsers as a to Microsoft’s monopoly in the PC operating systems market. The EU case, however, appears to be directly focused on Microsoft’s efforts to stifle competiton in the media player and low-end server markets.

  
  
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  Microsoft’s strategy seems to be to lose on liability, if necessary, but win on the remedy. With respect to the U.S. case, Microsoft drew out the case, successfully wearing its opponents and observers down. . .  [A]s previously noted, Microsoft has succeeded to large extent in the U.S. by delaying the imposition of remedies until the markets in question had irreversibly tipped in Microsoft’s favor. The EU case presents the same risk.

  
  
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  Consequently, the conduct remedies may be most significant part of the upcoming decision. With respect to the Workgroup Server market, the main remedial issues revolve around interoperability. Competitors want to see something similar to what was imposed on IBM in a much earlier case. “Full interoperability” is the key term. It has been defined in the Software Directive as access to all functions and features so that they function as they were intended to operate. Disclosure of the Windows APIs and protocols is another probable remedy, but this could Invite foot-dragging by Microsoft.

  
  
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  A credible remedy with respect to Windows Media Player needs to require at least two things. First, Microsoft must unbundled the Windows Media Player from Windows. Preferably, Microsoft would not be allowed to distribute Windows Media Player with Windows. Most reports, however, suggest that the EU will require Microsoft to offer two versions of Windows, one with and one without Windows Media Player. So long as Microsoft is not allowed to charge the same (or higher) price for the stripped down version of Windows, this will still be a significant step forward. Second, Microsoft must open up the formats at the server level so that Content Providers can choose among competing providers of streaming technologies.

  
  
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  It is probably true in Europe, as it was in the U.S., that the price of Windows did not fall as rapidly as it would have fallen in a more competitive market. But the strongest arguments for enforcement action lie in the realm of consumer choice being reduced by anticompetitive behavior and investments in innovation being deterred by fear of Microsoft’s ability to usurp any innovation that shows signs of success.