Dewey, Cheatem, and Weiss
October 31, 2006 10:26 AM   Subscribe

The Strange Saga of Milberg Weiss. It started with a bitchslap in Cleveland and may end in the downfall of the largest securities class-action law firm in America.
posted by Falconetti (23 comments total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
interesting how stories like this unravel from one small incident...
posted by gnutron at 10:41 AM on October 31, 2006


This is all very interesting. I hope that further investigation reveals a connection to a high-ranking federal official, preferably Republican.
posted by Faint of Butt at 10:50 AM on October 31, 2006


What's truly, impossibly bizarre is that this man can marry four times.
posted by docpops at 10:52 AM on October 31, 2006


Discussing a MONET and a PICASSO: Cooperman had suggested throwing them into a dumpster, but Tierney rejected the idea: "The problem with a dumpster is that the garbage man comes and he picks 'em up, and he might say, 'Hey, this looks like a Monet!'" Cooperman then proposed running them through a shredder or cutting them up with garden shears.

Whatta bastard.
posted by These Premises Are Alarmed at 10:53 AM on October 31, 2006


This is a crazy story. $1000 a week crack habit? Is that even possible?

By the way, have you heard the new Bitchslap in Cleveland album? It got a 7.2 on Pitchfork.
posted by jefbla at 11:03 AM on October 31, 2006


*trying to find compassion*
posted by ZenMasterThis at 11:17 AM on October 31, 2006


What an amazing little saga.

I wonder how many other firms are practicing variations of this kind of not-quite-legal corporate law. (I'd be willing to bet most of them, but clearly, there's an acceptable level of illegality, and Milberg & Weiss happened to run that particular red light without even slowing down.)

That was actually kind of fascinating.
posted by chicobangs at 11:22 AM on October 31, 2006


> What's truly, impossibly bizarre is that this man can marry four times.

Heh. Somebody married Henry Kissinger, didn't they? Somebody would marry Tiny Tim, if he had money. Four somebodies.
posted by jfuller at 11:22 AM on October 31, 2006


docpops, I'm pretty sure if I made $16 million a year I could find four people to marry me, too.
posted by amro at 11:23 AM on October 31, 2006


Cooperman wanted to shred the Monet and the Picasso? What a vile little man. The story of how this all came to light is very interesting. I guess a bunch of these guys wish he actually did shred those paintings.
posted by caddis at 11:35 AM on October 31, 2006


I see Tom Hanks as the composite intrepid government investigator who cracks the whole damn thing open. They'll also combine Weiss and Lerach into one guy named Milberg Weiss, to be played by Cristopher Lee.
posted by I Am Not a Lobster at 12:06 PM on October 31, 2006


Interesting. Their web site, the one mentioned near the end of the article linked, is apparently still up, by the way.
posted by koeselitz at 12:15 PM on October 31, 2006


Why does this not surprise me?
posted by JohnnyGunn at 12:18 PM on October 31, 2006


Note to self: You've just realized a 1500%+ return on your investment on stolen paintings. Drop them off at a homeless shelter or something where they can't be traced back to you (and the insurance company can do some good by delivering the reward).

Do not, I repeat, Do not give them to your crack addict friend for "safe" keeping in his garage.

Bizarrely this happens a lot where something six degrees seperated from a major crime bring down a serious criminal. Or fluke stuff like Son of Sam brought down by a parking ticket.
posted by Mitheral at 12:30 PM on October 31, 2006


I see Tom Hanks as the composite intrepid government investigator who cracks the whole damn thing open. They'll also combine Weiss and Lerach into one guy named Milberg Weiss, to be played by Cristopher Lee.

John Goodman in a fright wig as Lerach and - wait for it - Abe Vigoda as Melvyn Weiss. He's what? No he is NOT. I have a Firefox extension right here that says he's still alive.
posted by hal9k at 12:35 PM on October 31, 2006


Ah -- I knew those guys sounded familiar.
posted by nickmark at 1:35 PM on October 31, 2006


[...]But ultimately, no one had the stomach to rush the cockpit.
Too soon?
posted by pantsrobot at 1:36 PM on October 31, 2006


Holy shit that's a crazy-ass story...
posted by delmoi at 2:29 PM on October 31, 2006


Look again: Ed Asner is Melvyn Weiss.
posted by Smart Dalek at 2:34 PM on October 31, 2006


Who knew lawyers could be such sleazy reprobates?

These people have tarnished the unimpeachable reputations of legions of attorneys everywhere. I smell a class action lawsuit in the works...
posted by quin at 5:56 PM on October 31, 2006


What's truly, impossibly bizarre is that this man can marry four times.

You misunderestimate the power of money.
posted by five fresh fish at 7:11 PM on October 31, 2006


You misunderestimate the power of money.

Or the desperation of horrendously ugly ageing women with repulsive personalities and appalling personal hygiene.
posted by UbuRoivas at 6:41 PM on November 1, 2006


I suppose. Do we have pix of the wives? They could easily be Tammy Faye Bakkers. [shudder]
posted by five fresh fish at 6:59 PM on November 1, 2006


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