Richard Beasley
|
Richard Beasley is a lawyer. Born in Sydney, he grew up in Adelaide before heading east again after the last bizarre mass murder he could tolerate. He lives in Randwick, Sydney, at the back of the racecourse, which he considers to be the centre of the universe. |
From the Dustjacket
Hell Has Harbour Views: Hugh Walker thought being a lawyer would be something like To Kill A Mockingbird meets The Practive. Defending the innocent, or at least the guilty underdogs.
But it isn't like that at Rottman Maughan and Nash. In exchange for an office with a harbour view, they stole his good side on the first day. They act for large corporations. They hide dark secrets. They trample on the underdog.
At 32, Hugh has realised that a job with the gratest law firm in the universe is not worth selling his soul for. Even with a lifestyle to maintain. Not to mention that mortgage. Then there is his compromised love life...
The biggest trial of Hugh's life is approaching fast, and it isn't the mega-case he's working on.
The Ambulance Chaser : Politicians are competent, hard-working and devoted to public service.
Insurance Companies exist to help you.
Changes to Insurance Law are only about making things fairer.
If you believe any of the above, you've never lived in the real world.
At least that's the view of lawyer Christopher Blake. Of course, Chris is what people call an ambulance chaser, so what would he know? Too much, according to the Bar Association, which has just struck him off. Far too little according to his girlfriend.
Chris is now bankrupt, and the only work he can get is giving pro bono advice at a legal centre on how to sue a cat. This isn't paying his creditors, but the presence of a colleague who looks like Catherine Zeta-Jones almost makes up for this. In desperation, Chris takes on a job with South Pacific Group Insurance, the world's fastest-growing insurance company, and a place where injury paintiffs should stop moaning and die. Which, Chris notices, they happen to be doing at an alarming rate.
Chris decides to conduct his own investigation into South Pacific, and The Ambulance Chaser becomes the brilliantly funny tale of what can happen when a corporation breaches capitalism's golden rule - never employ an honest lawyer.
Free Hit Counter