A mini-review by Greater Jackson Business Publisher, Jack Criss
Jackson resident, Alan Lange, along with co-author Tom Dawson, have recently published a book which should be required reading for, not only those interested in Mississippi politics, but also those interested in human psychology.
“Kings of Tort” (Pediment Publishing, 2009) takes the reader on a fascinating ride alongside the rise and consequent spiral of trial lawyer, Dickie Scruggs, and his accomplices Tim Balducci, Joey Langston, Steve Patterson and Bobby DeLaughter. All well-respected and well known men, the hubris of the parties involved could easily have come from a Greek tragedy.
The authors, utilizing meticulous research and chronological dilligence, document the events which led to the ultimate undoing of Scruggs and his co-horts. Far from being a monotonous recitation, however, “King of Torts” reads almost like a novel, keeping the reader in suspense in spite of the fact that most are probably very aware of the outcome. Easily read in one sitting, “Kings Of Tort” will elicit anger regardless of your political allegiance. The book’s goal (and it is reached successfully) is to present this tragic situation in an objective light sans political partisanship. All readers will learn a lot from this book; hopefully, it’s popularity will prevent any such travesties from taking place in the future by awakening readers to the depths some men will go to for the promise of fame and fortune in the name of the “public good.”
For their first book, “Kings Of Tort” must be judged a triumph for Lange and Dawson and its rise on the bestseller lists confirms that assesment. Locally, the book has flown off the shelves and Greater Jackson Business predicts national coverage for the book, as well. Surely this book is the best of the season thus far and is mandatory reading—get your copy today.
