How bad are things right now? So bad that plaintiffs' lawyers are starting to look good.
At a time when regulators are a step behind public anger and self-policing is a joke, the attorneys who make a living suing Corporate America have become one of the most powerful forces compelling executives to behave. The scandals have given them a unique chance to pose as Robin Hoods. Consider stock fraud litigator Bill Lerach--who was so widely demonized in the '90s that he all but stopped talking to the media. Lately he has been defending Enron shareholders, airing his own agenda for cleaning up executive suites, and has even been dubbed America's "top corporate crime fighter" by the left-leaning The Nation magazine.
