Why do lawyers sue individuals and small businesses who seem to have few or no assets?
We are not out to destroy peoples’ lives or businesses; to the contrary, we work tirelessly to better peoples’ lives and society. Nearly every case which is filed, and certainly every case which proceeds to trial, is a case in which the defendant has insurance. The insurance company hires a lawyer to defend the insured and pays for any judgment or settlement against the defendant. In California trials, we cannot mention whether the defendant even has insurance. Since we, as contingent fee lawyers, are paid a portion of what is recovered in the case, it would make no sense for us to pursue a claim which likely cannot be paid.
