Follow TV Tropes

Following

History Main / AmbulanceChaser

Go To

OR

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* In real life, in the United States, lawyers ARE NOT ALLOWED to ambulance-chase, in the sense of soliciting business at the scene of an accident or even too-soon thereafter. State Bars have very strict rules governing how a lawyer can approach potential clients, rules you can be grieved to the Bar for violating. If a lawyer does do something like this, he will not do it in public.

to:

* In real life, in the United States, lawyers ARE NOT ALLOWED to ambulance-chase, in the sense of soliciting business at the scene of an accident or even too-soon thereafter. State Bars have very strict rules governing how a lawyer can approach potential clients, rules you can be grieved to the Bar for violating. If a lawyer does do something like this, he will not do it in public. Within living memory, lawyers were not even allowed to advertise their services; it was considered just too vulgar for the legal profession.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* In real life, in the United States, lawyers ARE NOT ALLOWED to ambulance-chase, in the sense of soliciting business at the scene of an accident or even too-soon thereafter. State Bars have very strict rules governing how a lawyer can approach potential clients, rules you can be grieved to the Bar for violating. If a lawyer does do something like this, he will not do it in public.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

** As an attorney I can tell you that in many states this kind of behavior might violate the Bar Associations ethics rules. In person solicitation of clients known to have a potential claim is generally not allowed (exceptions exist for close friends, family members etc.) If you're actively injured (still in a cast, undergoing treatment etc) and you get a call from a lawyer, consider filing a bar complaint.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


[[folder:TruthInTelevision]]
* Anti-violence activist and ex-attorney JackThompson is infamous for this sort of behavior ([[CourtroomAntic among]] [[{{Jerkass}} other things]]). If there's a [[NewMediaAreEvil controversy involving video games]], he'll be there to take the case (or comment on it). Eventually, the judges in Florida wised up to how much of a mockery he made of the legal process, and stripped him of his license.

to:

[[folder:TruthInTelevision]]
[[folder:Real Life]]
* Anti-violence activist and ex-attorney JackThompson [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Thompson_(activist) Jack Thompson]] is infamous for this sort of behavior ([[CourtroomAntic among]] [[{{Jerkass}} other things]]). If there's a [[NewMediaAreEvil controversy involving video games]], he'll be there to take the case (or comment on it). Eventually, the judges in Florida wised up to how much of a mockery he made of the legal process, and stripped him of his license.

Added: 195

Changed: 246

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None



[[AC:{{Film}}]]

to:

\n[[AC:{{Film}}]][[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:{{Film}}]]




[[AC:{{Literature}}]]

to:

\n[[AC:{{Literature}}]][[/folder]]

[[folder:{{Literature}}]]




[[AC:LiveActionTV]]

to:

\n[[AC:LiveActionTV]][[/folder]]

[[folder:LiveActionTV]]




[[AC:{{MMORPG}}]]

to:

\n[[AC:{{MMORPG}}]][[/folder]]

[[folder:{{MMORPG}}]]




[[AC:WesternAnimation]]

to:

\n[[AC:WesternAnimation]][[/folder]]

[[folder:WesternAnimation]]




[[AC:VideoGames]]

to:

\n[[AC:VideoGames]][[/folder]]

[[folder:VideoGames]]




[[AC:WebComics]]

to:

\n[[AC:WebComics]][[/folder]]

[[folder:WebComics]]




[[AC:TruthInTelevision]]

to:

\n[[AC:TruthInTelevision]][[/folder]]

[[folder:TruthInTelevision]]


Added DiffLines:

[[/folder]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None



to:

* Mitchell Stephens of TheSweetHereafter says he knows he comes across as this, but he doesn't care - his real goal is to make lawsuits so costly for corporations that they'll take the time and spend the money on safety, instead of cutting costs and putting other people at risk.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

** The US version has Frank's lawyer who can be found pouring water on stairs leading to train stations. When the water freezes and someone slips on the ice, he is right there to offer his services to sue the city.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* Deck Shifflet from ''The Rainmaker'' qualifies except for one thing: he hasn't managed to pass the bar exam.

to:

* Deck Shifflet from ''The Rainmaker'' ''TheRainmaker'' qualifies except for one thing: he hasn't managed to pass the bar exam.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None



to:

* In Disney's ''[[{{Disney/Hercules}} Hercules]]'', one of the townspeople dismiss Hercules as "just another [[HoldYourHippogriffs chariot chaser]]."






<<|TruthInTelevision|>>

to:

<<|TruthInTelevision|>>

Added: 47

Changed: 293

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None



to:

* On ''DharmaAndGreg'', Greg at one point got his own practice and swore he wouldn't be an ambulance chaser. However, business was very slow and he started to get depressed. Then one night, he heard an ambulance park right outside his building. After pausing to consider, he made his decision:
-->'''Greg''': It's not chasing if it's parked.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None



to:

* In ''Interstate 60'', the protagonist Neal comes across a town called [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Morlaw]] while on the titular road, in which all the residents are lawyers and everybody sues everybody. While in a lawyer's office, Neal sees an ambulance driving by, with a HORDE of other lawyers running after it.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None



to:

* All of those No-Win-No-Fee adverts that seem to have sprung up in the past few years. "If you've had an accident in the past that wasn't your fault, call xxxxxxx now!"
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* ''The Verdict'' has Paul Newman as an AmbulanceChaser who discovers [[HeelFaceTurn he cares]].

to:

* ''The Verdict'' ''TheVerdict'' has Paul Newman as an AmbulanceChaser who discovers [[HeelFaceTurn he cares]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None



to:

* Joe Adler of the MikeJudge movie ''{{Extract}}'' is usually thought of as this. Judge apparently based him on a {{real life}} lawyer.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* [[PicketFences "Douglas Wambaugh]] [[for the Defense, your Honor"]]

to:

* [[PicketFences "Douglas Wambaugh]] [[for for the Defense, your Honor"]]
Honor"
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None



to:

* [[PicketFences "Douglas Wambaugh]] [[for the Defense, your Honor"]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None



to:

* Who *hasn't* been in a car wreck -- no matter how minor, but one where the cops show up -- and then gotten inundated with emails and phone calls from attorneys offering to help you settle for what you "deserve"?
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* Roland T. Flakfizer from ''BrainDonors'' plays the trope literally. His very first appearance in the film features him chasing an ambulance ''on foot'' to the scene of an automobile accident, where he immediately begins to yell about the impending lawsuits he plans to file.

to:

* Roland T. Flakfizer from ''BrainDonors'' plays the trope literally. His is a ''literal'' Ambulance Chaser -- his very first appearance in the film features him chasing an ambulance ''on foot'' to the scene of an automobile accident, where he immediately begins to yell about the impending lawsuits he plans to file.

Added: 1073

Changed: 412

Removed: 841

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


[[AC:{{Film}}]]
* ''The Verdict'' has Paul Newman as an AmbulanceChaser who discovers [[HeelFaceTurn he cares]].
* In ''RevengeOfTheNerds III'', Dudley "Booger" Dawson from the first film is an attorney, and he gets a call from the new-generation Tri-Lambs to help them out of legal trouble. He says he's on his way to meet a client. In fact, he's literally tailgating an ambulance.
* Deck Shifflet from ''The Rainmaker'' qualifies except for one thing: he hasn't managed to pass the bar exam.
* "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich (Walter Matthau) in BillyWilder's ''The Fortune Cookie''.
* Roland T. Flakfizer from ''BrainDonors'' plays the trope literally. His very first appearance in the film features him chasing an ambulance ''on foot'' to the scene of an automobile accident, where he immediately begins to yell about the impending lawsuits he plans to file.

[[AC:{{Literature}}]]
* Stanley Hastings from the Stanley Hastings series is a self-described ambulance chaser.
* The werewolf lawyers in ''Barking'' by TomHolt do, in fact, have an instinctive tendency to chase ambulances.



[[AC:{{Film}}]]
* ''The Verdict'' has Paul Newman as an AmbulanceChaser who discovers [[HeelFaceTurn he cares]].
* In ''RevengeOfTheNerds III'', Dudley "Booger" Dawson from the first film is an attorney, and he gets a call from the new-generation Tri-Lambs to help them out of legal trouble. He says he's on his way to meet a client. In fact, he's literally tailgating an ambulance.
* Deck Shifflet from ''The Rainmaker'' qualifies except for one thing: he hasn't managed to pass the bar exam.
* "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich (Walter Matthau) in BillyWilder's ''The Fortune Cookie''.
* In ''BrainDonors'', Roland T. Flakfizer literally plays this role UpToEleven. His very first appearance in the film features him chasing an ambulance ''on foot'' to the scene of an automobile accident, where he immediately begins to yell about the impending lawsuits he plans to file.

to:

[[AC:{{Film}}]]
* ''The Verdict'' has Paul Newman as an AmbulanceChaser who discovers [[HeelFaceTurn he cares]].
[[AC:{{MMORPG}}]]
* In ''RevengeOfTheNerds III'', Dudley "Booger" Dawson from Toontown Online, one of the first film is an attorney, and he gets a call from the new-generation Tri-Lambs to help them out of legal trouble. He says he's on his way to meet a client. In fact, he's literally tailgating an ambulance.
* Deck Shifflet from ''The Rainmaker'' qualifies except for one thing: he hasn't managed to pass the bar exam.
* "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich (Walter Matthau) in BillyWilder's ''The Fortune Cookie''.
* In ''BrainDonors'', Roland T. Flakfizer literally plays this role UpToEleven. His very first appearance
cogs are called Ambulance Chasers. Too bad there aren't any real ambulances in the film features him chasing an ambulance ''on foot'' to the scene of an automobile accident, where he immediately begins to yell about the impending lawsuits he plans to file.
game.



[[AC:{{Literature}}]]
* Stanley Hastings from the Stanley Hastings series is a self-described ambulance chaser.
* The werewolf lawyers in ''Barking'' by TomHolt do, in fact, have an instinctive tendency to chase ambulances.

[[AC:{{MMORPG}}]]
* In Toontown Online, one of the cogs are called Ambulance Chasers. Too bad there aren't any real ambulances in the game.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None



to:

* In ''BrainDonors'', Roland T. Flakfizer literally plays this role UpToEleven. His very first appearance in the film features him chasing an ambulance ''on foot'' to the scene of an automobile accident, where he immediately begins to yell about the impending lawsuits he plans to file.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* Despite the games actually averting this through the thematics of the cases, at least one witness attempted to insult PhoenixWright by calling him this. It worked. [[BewareOfTheNiceOnes And the wittness went DOOOOWN.]]

to:

* Despite the games actually averting this through the thematics of the cases, at least one witness attempted to insult PhoenixWright by calling him this. It worked. [[BewareOfTheNiceOnes And the wittness witness went DOOOOWN.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None



to:

* Despite the games actually averting this through the thematics of the cases, at least one witness attempted to insult PhoenixWright by calling him this. It worked. [[BewareOfTheNiceOnes And the wittness went DOOOOWN.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


** The latter point is TruthInTelevision - lawyers almost never represent themselves. They have more sense.

to:

** The latter point is TruthInTelevision - lawyers almost never represent themselves. They have more sense. The old saying is that a lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client.

Added: 133

Changed: 63

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* One of these goes after the main character in ''JAG'', and apparently this particular AmbulanceChaser is so good that the ''lawyer'' has to get himself a lawyer!

to:

* One of these goes after the main character in ''JAG'', ''{{JAG}}'', and apparently this particular AmbulanceChaser is so good that the ''lawyer'' has to get himself a lawyer!




to:

* Arnold Ripner, a recurring character on ''BarneyMiller''.
* A ''NightCourt'' episode has Bull's cousin as one of these, who sues Roz after Bull borrows her gun and shoots himself in the foot.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* The movie ''TheVerdict'' has Paul Newman as an AmbulanceChaser who discovers [[HeelFaceTurn he cares]].

to:

* The movie ''TheVerdict'' ''The Verdict'' has Paul Newman as an AmbulanceChaser who discovers [[HeelFaceTurn he cares]].



* Deck Shifflet from TheRainmaker qualifies except for one thing: he hasn't managed to pass the bar exam.

to:

* Deck Shifflet from TheRainmaker ''The Rainmaker'' qualifies except for one thing: he hasn't managed to pass the bar exam.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


--->'''Hutz''': I don't use the word "hero" very often, but you, sir ... are the greatest hero ... in American history.

to:

--->'''Hutz''': I don't use the word "hero" very often, but you, sir ...you ... are the greatest hero ... in American history.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* Frequently representing [[TheSimpsons Simpson]] family until 1998, Lionel Hutz (AKA Miguel Sanchez, AKA Dr. Nguyen Van Phuoc) is an unscrupulous, unqualified failure, and the only lawyer willing to represent Homer in his various trumped-up junk lawsuits (e.g., this exchange from ?New Kid On the Block? - 1994).

to:

* Frequently representing [[TheSimpsons Simpson]] family until 1998, Lionel Hutz (AKA Miguel Sanchez, AKA Dr. Nguyen Van Phuoc) is an unscrupulous, unqualified failure, and the only lawyer willing to represent Homer in his various trumped-up junk lawsuits (e.g., this exchange from ?New "New Kid On the Block? - 1994).Block"):
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


--->'''Hutz''': Mr. Simpson, this is the most blatant case of fraudulent advertising since my suit against the film, ''TheNeverendingStory''.

to:

--->'''Hutz''': Mr. Simpson, this is the most blatant case of fraudulent advertising since my suit against the film, film ''TheNeverendingStory''.



--->'''Hutz''': I don?t use the word ??hero?? very often, but you sir ... are the greatest hero ... in American history.

to:

--->'''Hutz''': I don?t don't use the word ??hero?? "hero" very often, but you you, sir ... are the greatest hero ... in American history.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich (Walter Matthau) in Billy Wilder's ''The Fortune Cookie''.

to:

* "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich (Walter Matthau) in Billy Wilder's BillyWilder's ''The Fortune Cookie''.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None



to:

* "Whiplash Willie" Gingrich (Walter Matthau) in Billy Wilder's ''The Fortune Cookie''.

Top