Why on earth would the New York Police Department's union threaten to sue Occupy Wallstreet protesters? Does the average officer really believe she or he is aligned with the 1 percent? Or does the average officer remember the hard battle fought because, in recent history, starting wages could be as low as $21,000?
The answer, it turns out, is that attorney James Lysaght knows who butters his bread. And the wielder of all forms of fatty deliciousness to be spread across Lysaght's toast is: the financial industry.
It is a story as old as time. Lawyer meets corrupt official. Corrupt official is removed. Corrupt official transfers business to lawyer's wife (also a lawyer).
Firm gets in legal trouble. Firm closes. Lawyer begins new firm. New firm serves two masters: the union (Patrolmen's Benevolent Association) and corporate America.
Or, to be blunt, firm represents corporate America. Firm lashes out against working people who funded (voluntarily or not, through the misuse of their union dues) lawyer's rise to power.
Former cop, James Lysaght, is a loyal type. He has kept close ties to his former roommate, Richard Hartman. Hartman used union funds for gambling binges. Lysaghts firm was hired to replace Hartman, but then hired him as a "consultant" to sell life insurance policies to the Patrolmen's Benevelent Association.
Then, Lysaght was, in 1997, indicted on racketeering charges for taking kickbacks for $3 million in legal business. (So that's how you get those big clients--I slept through class that day in law school!)
Not one to be kept down, Lysaght, with his wife, started a new firm. And who would hire a lawyer after such an indictment? Why, the financial services industry!
Mr. Lysaght serves a master. And that master is not the average police officer patroling New York City's streets. Mr. Lysaght's sole interest is to protect and defend those who destroy the economy.
The answer, it turns out, is that attorney James Lysaght knows who butters his bread. And the wielder of all forms of fatty deliciousness to be spread across Lysaght's toast is: the financial industry.
It is a story as old as time. Lawyer meets corrupt official. Corrupt official is removed. Corrupt official transfers business to lawyer's wife (also a lawyer).
Firm gets in legal trouble. Firm closes. Lawyer begins new firm. New firm serves two masters: the union (Patrolmen's Benevolent Association) and corporate America.
Or, to be blunt, firm represents corporate America. Firm lashes out against working people who funded (voluntarily or not, through the misuse of their union dues) lawyer's rise to power.
Former cop, James Lysaght, is a loyal type. He has kept close ties to his former roommate, Richard Hartman. Hartman used union funds for gambling binges. Lysaghts firm was hired to replace Hartman, but then hired him as a "consultant" to sell life insurance policies to the Patrolmen's Benevelent Association.
Then, Lysaght was, in 1997, indicted on racketeering charges for taking kickbacks for $3 million in legal business. (So that's how you get those big clients--I slept through class that day in law school!)
Not one to be kept down, Lysaght, with his wife, started a new firm. And who would hire a lawyer after such an indictment? Why, the financial services industry!
Mr. Lysaght serves a master. And that master is not the average police officer patroling New York City's streets. Mr. Lysaght's sole interest is to protect and defend those who destroy the economy.
