Watch out for predatory legal sharks

To the editor:

A practicing attorney gave a lecture on the subject of litigation that the good people of Las Vegas should take to heart. I quote:

"Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can. Point out to them how the nominal winner is often a real loser -- in fees, expenses and a waste of time. As a peace-maker the lawyer has a superior opportunity of being a good man. There will be business enough. Never stir up litigation. A worse man can scarcely be found that one who does this. Who can be more of a fiend than he (that) stir(s) up strife, (to) put money in his pocket?"

That was Abraham Lincoln in 1850.

Since moving to Las Vegas three years ago I have been constantly astounded by the inordinately greedy and predatory lawyers that abound in our fair city. Lincoln would be speechless if he could hear their aggressive and ruthless commercials. What do you think?

Richard York

Las Vegas

Employee rights

To the editor:

Mark Morris, who responded to my Dec. 27 letter regarding the right of employees to choose a union, appears to be under the misguided impression that a citizen cannot be granted a right unless it is specifically delineated in the Constitution.

A citizen may also be granted a right by means of legislation, as is the case with the 1935 National Labor Relations Act. Section 7 of the act specifically states in part, "Employees shall have the right to self-organization, to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing, and to engage in other concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection."

The U.S. Supreme Court in 1937 upheld the constitutionality of the act in NLRB v. Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp.

Though the act has been amended more than once since then, the foregoing language in Section 7 has remained intact.

Presuming Mr. Morris is a U.S. citizen, he is free to petition the high court to overturn its decision.

Until that happens, however, the NLRA remains the law of the land, which most specifically grants certain rights to employees.

Tom Gillespie

Mesquite

Rich pols

To the editor:

Morris Katz's Dec. 29 letter echoes the sentiments of many fixed-income retired citizens. Congress needs to raise taxes on the rich.

But let's hope that our poor boys and girls in Washington develop appropriate tax measures by taxing themselves first. Just look at the net worth figures among all 575 senators and House members listed at usatoday.com.

More than two-thirds of the members of Congress are multi-millionaires. So it is likely that the hopes of Mr. Katz, me and other fixed-income retirees may be just that. Hope with no change.

Robert S. Tobias

Las Vegas