A Tribute to American Justice

Sometimes we do not realize how good we have it. Recently I had a very practical reminder of how fortunate Americans are to have our system of justice.

I defended several prominent Mobilians who were being sued by people from India over a contract to renovate an office building in India. I was curious as to why the plaintiffs chose to file suit in Mobile Alabama when all of the activity occurred in India and that is where substantially all of the witnesses lived. The plaintiffs’ attorney was a bright, congenial attorney of Indian ancestry practicing in Baltimore, Maryland. We got along well.

While engaging in small talk with him I attempted to gently undermine his confidence in his case and simultaneously satisfy my curiosity about his choice of venue. I jokingly asked if he was familiar with the term “home-cooking.” He laughed and told me that he was very familiar with the concept. I pressed the issue and bluntly ask “why he was suing these highly regarded people in their own back yard? Did it occur to you that you might be better off in India?” He laughed again and acknowledged that he recognized the disadvantages facing his clients – who wore turbans and had to travel thousands of miles for depositions and court proceedings – but assured me that they made the choice knowingly. The Indian judicial system could not be trusted. He sadly admitted that he and his clients simply had more confidence in obtaining justice under our system than in their native India.

The case – like most cases resolved by our court system – was disposed of fairly and home-cooking played no part in the outcome. The point that struck me is the unintended tribute these sophisticated plaintiffs paid to the American Judicial System.