Pith in the Waller
And another thing about our favorite law firm, Waller Lansden Dorch & Davis. Remember the Erin Brockovich movie and all those corporate lawyers who were so obnoxious? Well, meet Michael K. Stagg, a Waller Lansden partner and the treasurer for Mike Stewart’s supposedly Democratic campaign for the state House.
As leader of the firm’s Environmental and Toxic Tort litigation group, the capable Mr. Stagg specializes in helping corporations get away with poisoning the environment, successfully defending polluters of the air and water against all those pesky citizen lawsuits. Did your company lose track of a few PCBs? No problem. No pollution is too toxic for this Waller Lansden man. From the firm's website:
He represented a major electric power producer in a Clean Air Act New Source Review enforcement action brought by EPA, and a large manufacturer against challenges brought by citizens alleging violations of various Clean Air Act permitting requirements. He also represents manufacturers and other commercial entities in toxic tort lawsuits alleging that the companies’ negligence caused personal and property damage. Mr. Stagg has defended private and public utilities that supply drinking water in Tennessee and California against lawsuits that alleged the companies served contaminated drinking water, contributed to the degradation of groundwater quality and quantity, and caused injuries to persons and property. Mr. Stagg represented a natural gas transmission company in a PCB personal injury lawsuit in which the U.S. Supreme Court eventually denied certiorari in favor of the company.
This may come as a surprise to loyal supporters of Stewart, himself a Waller Lansden tax attorney running in a heavily Democratic district, but Stagg also has contributed to Republicans—$250 to Bob Corker in 2006 and $450 to the state GOP the same year.
All of which begs the question: Why is he Stewart’s campaign treasurer? As we reported in last week's Scene, Stewart says he’ll resign from Waller Lansden, stop representing corporations trying to dodge state taxes, and magically become a completely independent state representative if he’s elected. But that hasn't stopped us from wondering here at Pith in the Waller, if you earn your living by gleefully violating Democratic Party principles (or associate closely with those who do, taking contributions from them and making one of them your campaign treasurer), can you still call yourself a Democrat?
Update: Sean Braisted thinks it's OK for Democrats to whore down for polluters.
Comments
If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck......
Posted 06/30/2008 at 12:55:13 PMYou know - he was also Diane Neighbors' treasurer.
Posted 06/30/2008 at 01:26:25 PMIs that what I said? I thought I said that by definition you are a Democrat unless stripped of said title by the TNDP. But hey, I guess disavowing and disowning anyone who doesn't meet my standards of what a Democrat ought to be would make things much easier. Don't like what a Democrat does? No problem, I can just call them a Republican and go about my day thinking the Democratic party is pure as snow.
Posted 06/30/2008 at 03:54:46 PMSean, we seem to have gotten sidetracked here with this are-you-a-Democrat-or-are-you-not thing. We're merely raising questions about Stewart's true allegiances. If elected, would he vote the way his constituents would expect a Democrat to vote? Or would he vote the way biz pigs want him to vote?
Posted 07/01/2008 at 10:06:12 AMThe whole theme of this post is so childish. So corporations shouldn't have legal representation when they are accused of environmental offenses? Have you read the details of the cases included in his cv? I know blogs are for ranting, often without a shread of reason or intellect, but this is absurd. Corporations are sued all the time not because they did anything wrong but becasue something bad happened to somebody and they want money, and who has the deepest pockets? Oh, and newsflash, lobbying firms of all political stripes regularly contribute to both political parties. It's called hedging.
Posted 07/01/2008 at 10:23:21 AM"...earn your living by gleefully violating Democratic Party principles"
How do you know this to be true? And what is the principle that has been violated? Providing legal counsel?
"Remember the Erin Brockovich movie and all those corporate lawyers who were so obnoxious? Well, meet Michael K. Stagg, a Waller Lansden partner and the treasurer for Mike Stewart’s supposedly Democratic campaign for the state House."
Yes, classic logic at work here. Some actors portraying corporate defense attorneys in a Julia Roberts movie were written to be obnoxious, so therefore Stagg must be the same way in real life. You write like a poorly informed teenager.
Posted 07/01/2008 at 10:28:45 AMIf elected, would he vote the way his constituents would expect a Democrat to vote?
I agree, it should be a concern for any elected official. Which is why it would be great for the Scene to sponsor a debate between the two sides so that those questions could be asked. I'm sure the Young Dems would be willing to get in on that action.
Posted 07/01/2008 at 12:05:50 PM