Four Trials

Rating:
Summary: Eye Opening Experience
Review: "Four Trials" by John Edwards has opened my eyes into the life of these four trials that John took up during his law practice. These trials help change the lives of his clients, at first I was skeptical, but the direction he took these trials makes you want to believe in the system. This book is a definate must read, it gives you information into the life of John Edwards and why he was running for president. This book does not describe totally why he was running for president, but just gives you detials into his life of why he wants to help people. This book makes you cry and makes you wanna believe again in the legal system. I have nothing more than praise for John Edwards and I wish him well in the rest of his career. Even if your not a person that intersted in John Edwards, a Democrat, it is a book that does not have any political boundries. It deals with everyday issues regarding how lives can change so suddenly for the worse and you need people to help you get through tough times and is very symbolic of the American Dream. It is one of my all time favorite books now and definatly encourage you guys to read it just take my word for it. After you read it, you will have nothing more than praise for it. It is also suprising how it is an easy read even though you might think it will not be due to law jargon. Anymore questions or comments [e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: Eye Opening Experience
Review: "Four Trials" by John Edwards has opened my eyes into the life of these four trials that John took up during his law practice. These trials help change the lives of his clients, at first I was skeptical, but the direction he took these trials makes you want to believe in the system. This book is a definate must read, it gives you information into the life of John Edwards and why he was running for president. This book does not describe totally why he was running for president, but just gives you detials into his life of why he wants to help people. This book makes you cry and makes you wanna believe again in the legal system. I have nothing more than praise for John Edwards and I wish him well in the rest of his career. Even if your not a person that intersted in John Edwards, a Democrat, it is a book that does not have any political boundries. It deals with everyday issues regarding how lives can change so suddenly for the worse and you need people to help you get through tough times and is very symbolic of the American Dream. It is one of my all time favorite books now and definatly encourage you guys to read it just take my word for it. After you read it, you will have nothing more than praise for it. It is also suprising how it is an easy read even though you might think it will not be due to law jargon. Anymore questions or comments [e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: People can relate to this man
Review: A breath of fresh air, John Edwards tells of his youth and the trials that he fought for the underdog. He believes in justice for all people.This book will open your eyes when it comes to our legal system. I wish this book was longer, i think even his little trials would be worth reading about. John Edwards has a soul. This book would make a good movie

Rating:
Summary: I voted for him when he ran for senate
Review: And I am proud to have done it. This book proves that trial lawyers do plenty of good things as well as the bad we always hear about. Most of the work of lawyers is good work. It's the few strange cases where someone sues over a hot coffee spill that give the whole profession an undeservedly bad name.

This book reads like a good novel and it lets you know that Edwards is a good man. I hope Kerry or Clark pick him for VP when the primaries are over and there's a winner.

Rating:
Summary: Now I understand
Review: As a nurse, the thought of a trial lawyer has caused me to come out in hives or more than one occasion, but I would be lying through my teeth if I didn't admit that mistakes with horrendous sequelae do sometimes happen. That said, do not genuinely hurt people have a right to financial compensation for the wrong they have sufferred? If it were my child who was born with cerebral palsy and I later found out that it could have been prevented had appropriate care standards been followed; you better believe I would be suing, and as a nurse, I would expect to be held responsible for my actions if I were involved in such a case. Frivolous lawsuits aside, there are many other suits with merit that never come to the trial stage. It has become fashionable to blame "frivolous" lawsuits on the high cost of healthcare. Perhaps, if we really paid attention to the mistake statistics in our health care facilities, we would understand that the real way to solve these problems is to improve processes so that actual errors become fewer. Should we deny injured people the result to financial compensation for a lifetime of pain and suffering because we are worried about the companies and people who messed up? How fair would that be? We're sorry but you can no longer sue for lost wages and all the special equipment you now need just to get by because we're trying to cut back on frivolous lawsuits! Give me a break!! D. Allison should go back and read the book again and ask herself if she genuinely feels that these particular cases had no merit and that John Edward's sole motivation in bringing them to trial was self gain. The child who was eviscerated over some screws that were not deemed important by a company deserved every penny she received. Sure, Mr Edwards made money, but I don't think any of us would do what we do for free.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Read
Review: As other reviews have noted, this is not your typical political type book. This book barely even mentions politics. If you're looking for John Edwards views on various policy, you'll have to do some homework elsewhere.

I would put this book up there with any great legal novel. The only difference is that the stories are real. I just love this book. Edwards neatly divides up the book into the four trials, each covering 40 to 50 pages. Intertwined with the storytelling of these trials is a brief biography of him and his family. The four trials he discusses are fascinating. They deal with various individuals who have been wronged and how he helped use the legal system to assist them. The book was a real "page-turner" for me. You can easily read a chapter a day and be done within a week.

After reading this book, I've come to greatly admire John Edwards the man. I'm a Democrat and had not decided who to vote for in the primary. I am sure I will be voting for Edwards now. (Assuming he is still in the race.) I only hope others will do the same. I think he will make a fine President.

Rating:
Summary: Lawyers - also see Common Sense Rules of Advocacy
Review: Edwards' book is excellent, but lawyers who want to be more persuasive should also get a practical book on trial advocacy, "Common Sense Rules of Advocacy for Lawyers." The author, Keith Evans, practiced as a British barrister for a decade and as a California trial lawyer for many years. He also lectured regularly to many American Inns of Court.

What others have said about Evans book:

"Terrific"
-- Philip H. Corboy, Corboy & Demetrio, Chicago, IL

"Valuable review for the old timers and an excellent primer for those who are starting the climb."
-- Jacob A. Stein, Stein, Mitchell & Mezines, Washington, DC

"A wonderful 'Bible' for the trial lawyer who wants to win. If only we had had this in law school!"
-- Browne Greene, Greene, Broillet, Panish & Wheeler, Santa Monica, CA

"Even the most experienced trial lawyer can pick up some new techniques here."
-- Frederick C. Moss, Professor, Dedman School of Law, Southern Methodist University

"Remarkable compendium of useful advice."
-- Roxanne Barton Conlin, Roxanne Conlin & Associates, Des Moines, IA (first woman President of Association of Trial Lawyers of America)

"Great introduction for the new lawyer and a wonderful learning tool for the advocate with experience."
-- Sherman L. Cohn, Professor, Georgetown University Law Center (first national President of American Inns of Court)

See more information about Evans' book by searching Amazon for ISBN 1587330059

Rating:
Summary: This book is incredible
Review: Forget politics. Yes, Senator Edwards is running for president, but it has nothing to do with that. Nothing. This book takes the reader inside the American legal system like few before it has. I was amazed at these stories and took time to research a couple of them, to find out that these cases were just as he wrote them is mind boggling. If this guy could be half as good a president as he is a writer - he's got my vote. Whatever your politics though, this book is a winner.

Rating:
Summary: Courtroom drama is riveting
Review: Full disclosure - I am a Republican trial attorney who supports tort reform. And I served briefly in the NC State Senate this year which means as I am sure you would discern, I have some strongly held positions relative to the types of cases that Edwards writes about in this book - suffice it to say that I am certain that he and I would disagree on the issue of tort reform!

But I have also tried many cases in North Carolina Courts and was overwhelmed with the drama of these particular cases. I will leave the debate over malpractice caps, liabilty reform, collateral source rules, etc. to another forum and write solely about the merits of this book. It is an impressive display of a practitioner who is at the top of his game. I have had many trials that were as important to me and my clients as these were to Edwards' and his. Indeed, I would submit that every trial attorney has "war stories' that they think are worthy of a book. What distingusihes our cases from his are the complexity and the depth of his successes. These are not easy cases and as a 31 year old (in the 1st one), he was not handed these victories. When starting out as a trial attorney, one has nothing but his character and work ethic and it is evident to me at least, that Edwards is tops in both these categories. I know about those moments in testimony when a witness says the magic words that either make your case or break it; it is a hair-raising experience when your heart is beating out of your chest, you have 1 preemptory challenge left, and you just passed a "ringer" juror for the other side (or so you think). These things are not theatrics, but happen in EVERY case and are critical to our system of justice. How you prepare for them is what wins you the case or causes you to lose it. Edwards recounts his experiences with fervor and dignity. Like him, I believe our system is a work of art and serves the minority when it should - as long as we have hard-working lawyers not fearful to make a stand and do what they think is right. I am not suggesting that suing OBGYN's for a living is as noble as he might think. My experiences are more on the criminal side when the defendant is indigent, with no family support and who has been virtually forgotten by society. Winning (or losing) these cases has not made me a millionaire. But they have taught me similar lessons as Edwards and in that regard, I can identify with his experiences in the courthouse.

It used to be that the Courthouse was the central part of our small towns. Drive around any North Carolina town today with a population of less than 15,000 and you cannot miss the symbolism - circular drives, intersections that all end in front of the courthouse. Their beautiful rooms were the center of life as our country was forming itself into a nation of laws - they became the cultural center of small town North Carolina. And you can feel the magic of the courtroom within these pages of Edwards book.

I do not support him for President and never would. I am a Republican and do not agree with a lot that he advocates on the national stage. In fact, he is out of the mainstream of most North Carolinians with regards to his political leanings. But do I admire him? Yes. He is a gifted man who sees things in people and in his work that few others even come close to glimpsing. Notwithstanding his politics, he reminds me to look a little closer in the eyes of those folks yearning to be defended, to be helped. He is a good man and it shows in his work ethic as an attorney who cared deeply for his clients.

Rating:
Summary: Remarkably touching
Review: Having read a lot of reviews, I knew what to expect, yet was very touched in reading Senator Edwards' comments about his thoughts and memories during the four trials.

My emotions ran high - anger, sadness, relief for a few. I couldn't out the book down, because each case was unique and interesting. John Grisham's books are fine, but not real life. These were real life and while I can't believe some judges are asinine, as are CEO's and doctors, there are mistakes made in bad judgement. Everyone makes mistakes, and not all are cold cutthroat people who spit on the little people. Edwards seemed to get through all that, and did his job.

As for Wade, he was a remarkable boy, just like his Dad.