We Got Sued: Part 2!

Welp, the lawyers who sued RAYGUN actually responded to the video I made, and they like when I do to “saving lives.” I am serious!

Joshua Rose of the DC Consumer Law Group told the Des Moines Register that “citizen enforcement of the rules” is a “public service.” And “Nobody likes a speeding ticket, but everyone knows that speed limits save lives.”

What?! My eyes rolled so hard I almost fell off my wobble stool. 

Did Josh go to the Lack of Self-Awareness School of Law?!

This guy uses an obscure consumer protection code in Washington DC to extract fees from businesses (see original blog for details).

To liken himself to actual public servants is insane. Does he think there is going to be a Trial Attorneys Memorial in Washington DC? A tribute to all of those brave warriors we lost while pursuing justice through frivolous lawsuits?

There’ll be a Trial Attorney colored Punisher skull sticker on the back of Volvo SUVs in Bethesda while they wait at private school pick up.

No, Josh, you are not like the police enforcing speeding tickets. Police are in local communities and do have to answer to elected public officials.

You are like a private security firm in DC that writes tickets and tows cars, and you just mailed me a ticket for parking my car in Des Moines in such a way that violated DC Municipal code.

I don’t want to spiral and blow this out of proportion, but compared to Josh Rose likening what he does to public service, this will seem pretty measured.

There are two issues I have with this case that point to bigger issues in America:

First is this steady privatization of government roles. I believe in consumer protection and want a robust consumer protection division.

But when we create private consumer protection forces and allow no grace period for reform – like some states do – it leads to a misalignment of incentives.

This firm is not working in the interest of consumer protection. It does not go after the biggest violators. It goes after who will PAY THEM with the least resistance.

Similar to private prisons, when money comes from inmates, their incentive is to get MORE INMATES. This leads to a perversion of the intent.

Which brings me to my other issue with this, which is a tale as old as time: following the letter of the law, not the intent.

This is not a screed against trial attorneys, though some may want that. There are trial attorneys who actually fight for workers rights, who fight against dangerous work conditions or monopolies.

Lawyers like Josh Rose wrap themselves in intent of consumer protection and then liken themselves to public servants.

Dude, if you’re going to be an exploitive extractor of capital, doing nothing but pumping cholesterol into our economic circulatory system, LEAN INTO IT!

Just tell me, “I found a loophole and I’m exploiting it for financial gain, deal with it”

Don’t treat me like I’m dumb and you’re doing me a favor.

But, in the interest of saving lives, We’ve created 2 new shirts!

After all, if Josh can be a police officer, I can be a humanitarian.

You’re welcome for my service.