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Bar News - December 19, 2003 Morning Mail A Veteran’s Thanks My name is Michael Overton and I am writing this letter in appreciation of attorney Peter McGrath, for the outstanding pro bono work that he provided for me recently. I am a Persian Gulf War veteran who recently moved to this state from California to reconcile my marriage. Unfortunately, I soon found myself in the difficult position of having to defend myself in court. At the time that I was charged, I had suffered a broken wrist, lost my job and was not able to work. On top of that, I was homeless and destitute. Through a mutual friend, I was directed to contact the McGrath Law Firm in Concord and to speak directly to Peter McGrath. Mr. McGrath had a reputation for providing pro bono work for combat veterans in the past, and I was assured that he would assist me. Upon speaking with attorney McGrath, he agreed, without hesitation, to accept my case free of charge. Leading up to the trial date, attorney McGrath was extremely professional and compassionate about my needs, but, most importantly, he was able to calm my anxiousness regarding the possible outcome of the trial. Needless to say, the trial was a success and I am thoroughly pleased with the result! I feel compelled in my heart to write this letter because I understand that, quite frequently, lawyers do get a "bad rap," and it is often through the media that this happens. However, my experience was completely positive. I am extremely grateful that attorney McGrath was there for me and had the compassion to agree to help. I am quite certain that if only more attorneys were willing and able to provide the services that Peter McGrath did for me, that your office would be flooded with letters of this kind. In closing, please pass along my deepest appreciation to attorney Peter G. McGrath, and I would like to ask that he be recognized for the credit he so richly deserves. Mr. McGrath is an asset to the New Hampshire Bar. Michael J. Overton Concerns About Debt Burden Are Real Thanks for the article ("Debt Burdens New Lawyers" in the Nov. 17 Bar News). At the Disabilities Rights Center, about five of our lawyers receive assistance through the NH Bar Foundation’s loan forgiveness program, and it is a nice benefit to be able to offer given the increasingly large salary gap between especially the non-profit public interest sector and the private sector. Even with the program, there are highly qualified folks who want to work at DRC, but who can’t afford to, not only because of law school debts, but undergrad debts, as well. Like [NHLA Executive Director] John Tobin, I have been at this for awhile, having started at NHLA in the early ‘70s through mid ‘80s. I left, then came back to NH several years ago to work at DRC. It is far more difficult now to attract bright and passionate attorneys to organizations like DRC and NHLA. Luckily what we do is an attraction for some. Richard Cohen, Executive Director Legal System Falsely Portrayed As you may be aware, NBC Nightly News and Newsweek magazine are addressing tort issues this week in treatments they variously identify as "civil wars" and "litigation nation." ABA President Dennis W. Archer has sent the following letter to Tom Brokaw at NBC Nightly News and to the editor of Newsweek. Our country is blessed with a tradition of seeking justice in the courtroom, not in the street. The individual’s right to seek redress of grievances in an orderly way is not only a treasured tradition, it is a hallmark of a civilized society. Newsweek’s and NBC’s anecdotal rather than empirical reports of lawsuits that appear to go wrong would have readers and viewers believe that tort cases always do go wrong. This is false. The overwhelming majority of cases filed each year represent genuine issues of harm and suffering. The overwhelming majority of decisions that result represent justice. Courts have ways of weeding out frivolous lawsuits. Overly punitive judgments may be appealed. There are multiple remedies for corporations, government agencies, hospitals and the like that believe they are sued unfairly. Being able to be heard in a court of law is the individual’s principal safeguard, a safeguard that makes our country safer, our products better, our services more attuned to the needs of individuals. Destroy that ability and we slice a major gash in the protective bulwark of our justice system. Dennis W. Archer OPINIONS IN Bar News Unless otherwise indicated, opinions expressed in letters or commentaries published in Bar News are solely those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the policies of the New Hampshire Bar Association Board of Governors, the Bar News Editorial Advisory Board or the Bar Association staff.
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