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* If you go to attorney Tom DeVore’s website, you’ll see a link to sign up to be a plaintiff in his second lawsuit against the state’s assault weapons ban. Registration is now closed.
But if you use the WayBack Machine, you’ll see that signing up to be a plaintiff required forking over a $200 flat fee.
* Devore’s first lawsuit, filed in Effingham County, has 866 plaintiffs. The second lawsuit, filed in White County, has 1,690 plaintiffs.
This adds up to 2,556 plaintiffs - so far. At $200 a pop, that would be $511,200. He’s also taking donations.
All for filing copy and paste lawsuits over legislative procedural matters that were long ago settled by the Illinois Supreme Court and don’t look to be altered anytime soon, particularly with the new 5-2 Democratic dominance.
Nice work if you can get it.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 10:14 am
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I sure hope the folks at the ARDC are paying attention.
Comment by Big Dipper Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 10:17 am
Wait, are you saying Tom Devore is a grifter??? Say it ain’t so.
Comment by New Day Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 10:17 am
Grifters gonna grift.
Comment by Gruntled University Employee Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 10:19 am
I just read the first 1000 plaintiffs will get a digital trading card. No word yet if the back will have Tom’s win/loss record. /S
Comment by Jocko Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 10:21 am
It’s like the law version of the prosperity gospel.
Comment by Candy Dogood Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 10:21 am
Used car salesman with a law degree.
Comment by twowaystreet Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 10:22 am
Illinois Rule of Professional Conduct 1.5 - Fees
(a) A lawyer shall not make an agreement for, charge, or collect an unreasonable fee or an unreasonable amount for expenses…
Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 10:23 am
It’s so easy for DeVore to grift when he has so many accomplices sitting on red-county benches. These judges feel they can ignore precedent to craft their own rulings for political purposes.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 10:26 am
Which is about 50,000 AR-15s, I’d wager.
Comment by Concerned Observer Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 10:26 am
The only thing worse than being perpetually angry is paying $200 for the privilege.
Comment by Pundent Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 10:26 am
Wow, I need some coffee. Make that *500* AR-15s.
This is why I don’t join class action lawsuits #math
Comment by Concerned Observer Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 10:27 am
Nobody is forcing you to join the lawsuit.
If each individual gun shop owner, or other interested person were to file their own lawsuit, or hire their own attorney, the costs would be significantly higher.
Can’t wait to see what the State of Illinois costs will be defending this lawsuit, especially if they retain outside counsel.
Comment by Soapbox Derby Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 10:29 am
As an attorney, one of my pet peeves: Courts are absolutely terrible about enforcing ethical rules against raising frivolous arguments for the purposes of delay or increasing costs.
One of the biggest reasons that litigation is expensive and time consuming is that the only people in a position to do anything about that (i.e. judges who write and enforce procedural rules) completely ignore reality.
I’d argue that in roughly 75% or more of the civil litigation I’ve been involved in, at least one of the parties actively chose a course of action at some point related to discovery or motion practice solely for delay or cost inflation, knowing they were 99% likely to lose the argument.
Comment by Homebody Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 10:35 am
==It’s like the law version of the prosperity gospel.==
For those of us who got it, Candy, you’re right on the money.
Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 10:38 am
Remember when $200 bought you one hour of legal work?
I do.
I like this guy more and more.
Comment by 40,000 ft Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 10:39 am
There is literally an AI law bot that files copy/paste lawsuits like this for you. Couldn’t we have that instead of DeVore? More cost-effective for the plaintiffs, less DeVore in the news.
Comment by Suburban Mom Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 10:40 am
Devore the grifter. Has a nice ring to it.
Comment by Shytown Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 10:41 am
It’s more about the grift.
The checks (money order or cashier checks likely) cash the same.
The aggrieved wanna be heard.
I’d hear them… at half the cost and less the embarrassment
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 10:41 am
The guy is Blagojevichian in his abuse of what people want to hear vs what the law says/requires.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 10:43 am
Several comments appear to imply that this is improper. How so? These are people asking for representation. $200 on a flat basis is more than reasonable to cover expenses and fees. $511,000 for a lawsuit that will almost certainly entail fees is beyond reasonable. And I don’t even want this guy or his cause to win. Be objective people.
Comment by J. Willis McHugh Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 10:43 am
Is the $200 ask unreasonable? (re ARDC) how many hours did he spend crafting the lawsuit and will spend fighting it? it would seem that his fee is for an hour, seems. should he be charging such a fee when it is a big lawsuit? what do other such well known filers of lawsuits charge with a large class? Loevy comes to mind (somebody add up all HE has earned in lawsuits…..).
Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 10:46 am
===The only thing worse than being perpetually angry is paying $200 for the privilege.===
lol
Comment by Boone's is Back Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 10:51 am
Knowing that you have cover with a 5-2 Illinois supreme court does not mean that the Effingham/White county lawsuits are without purpose.
The TRO is a tactical victory – it prohibits enforcement of the law for those named as plaintiffs. The appeals court will have its says and it could take some time
While TRO’s are in place, the equal enforcement of the law statewide will engender frustration among 2A supporters and those in favor of the laws bans. The entire system of FFL/Privates sales of firearms and magazines is now a huge confused mess. As with the SAFE-T Act/Cashless bail laws, a more common sense solution will be for the Illinois Supremes to stay the enforcement statewide while the courts work through the lawsuits.
These county lawsuits also can be seen as “buying time” for those interested in individual 2A rights. All while the Federal lawsuit is winding its way up to the Supreme Court – where you likely have a more favorable court
Comment by Donnie Elgin Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 10:51 am
While it’s likely going to be overturned, how is this a grift though? Isn’t his job to win cases for his plaintiffs? It will ultimately be mute, but he did win for the plaintiffs with a TRO. It’s what they signed on for. Sometimes credit is deserved…he won the TRO for paying plaintiffs. All the bickering comes off as anger or jealousy frankly.
Comment by James Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 10:53 am
Is DeVore gathering funds for a Spring Break trip to Florida? First class tickets, et al.
Comment by Rudy’s teeth Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 10:53 am
-It will ultimately be mute, but he did win for the plaintiffs with a TRO.-
A TRO is not winning. A final judgment is winning.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 10:59 am
So, pay me $200 and I will file a law suit against this new law because it was passed in an illegal way that was already litigated by me which by the way, I lost the case. However, it was a conspiracy against me./s
Just don’t get it.
I think I will go into selling bridges. I heard the Golden Gate and Brooklyn bridges are for sale all you need is $200 to be a limited partner /s
Comment by snowman61 Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 11:00 am
-what do other such well known filers of lawsuits charge with a large class? Loevy comes to mind (somebody add up all HE has earned in lawsuits…..)-
My understanding is they largely work on contingency for damages cases.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 11:01 am
-So, pay me $200 and I will file a law suit against this new law-
More like, pay me $200 and I will type your name on this lawsuit I have already prepared and collect over $500K for a suit I expect will not take years and hundreds or thousands of hours to litigate, as the IL Sup Ct will grab it quickly, rule, and I can enjoy the cash. Thanks for contributing.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 11:06 am
On DeVore’s twitter account he was asking for puppets to join this new frivolous lawsuit. The attachment said Coles County Property Taxes. How would anyone in their right mind give this ambulance chaser any money?
Comment by Club J Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 11:06 am
(Sigh)
It’s not the grift that’s totally “bad”… it’s the cheapness of the grift.
No one likes a grifter, but the cheap ones give the pros a bad name.
:)
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 11:09 am
A lawyer, charging a fee, to perform legal services? [Gasps and clutches pearls]
Comment by rtov Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 11:19 am
===A lawyer, charging a fee, to perform legal services? [Gasps and clutches pearls]===
A cut-rate fee.
It’s like Better Call Saul kind of cheap, but for the ‘Merica folk.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 11:21 am
(sigh)
OW, you sound like one of my siblings in the back seat of the 1972 station wagon that had a 2 degree acceptable thermostat range.
I’m too cold. (Ya. We had air conditioning)
I’m too hot.
just teasing….
Comment by 40,000 ft Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 11:27 am
$500,000 is a far cry from the $800,000 he grifted from the masking madness lawsuit. Perhaps DeVore’s legal grifting skills are waning. I suppose he will be chasing ambulances soon.
Comment by H-W Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 11:28 am
- 40,000 ft -
I want my grifters to be about the full bore “I’m so good, pay me”
Cut rate grifters “I got that law thingy that let’s me file stuff, how much you got in your pockets” give grifting an even worse name.
Grifting is grifting, it’s cheap enough already…
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 11:30 am
It would be the same arguments whether he represented one plaintiff or thousands. So would half a million be a reasonable amount to charge one plaintiff? The ten additional seconds to type another name in the caption (likely handled by clerical help) seemingly would not justify a $200 charge.
Comment by Big Dipper Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 11:52 am
Devore just used his experience and managed to get out ahead in the grift. Watch for similar efforts by backwards counties and their backbencher state representatives. There will be no shortage of people ready to part with their money for a seat on the freedom caucus train to nowhere. What’s the harm? Pass the popcorn.
Comment by Consider This Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 12:16 pm
It seems that the Devore pitch is, you can be angry about this new law on your own, or you can pay me $200 and we’ll be angry together. Of course the sad reality is that Devore’s not really angry at all. And now he has your $200.
Comment by Pundent Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 12:18 pm
-It would be the same arguments whether he represented one plaintiff or thousands.-
I think this is something the IL Sup Ct needs to consider and perhaps opine on in their rules. Clearly charging one client $500K for this work up front would be unreasonable on its face. Does it make it OK because there are 2,500 names on the same two lawsuits, and no one client is paying an unreasonable fee, that would be unreasonable in the aggregate? Maybe.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 12:18 pm
the funny thing is this is gonna make enforcement crazy as any TRO will begin to open the flood gates on new sales of all kinds of stuff.
Good luck with policing that
Comment by Todd Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 12:27 pm
=Can’t wait to see what the State of Illinois costs will be defending this lawsuit, especially if they retain outside counsel.=
You do know that is your money too right?
The self owns today.
=Isn’t his job to win cases for his plaintiffs?=
Usually, but in this case you may want to check his wins and loses record.
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 12:31 pm
Apparently, IL needs its own set of political grifters. Can Beetle be far behind ?
Comment by sal-says Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 1:03 pm
It’s fair to say that he is an attorney and charging for a suit isn’t out of line. I guess what irks me is I think this has a lot more about keeping his name in the news then it does his clients interest. Hence all the procedure language that isn’t going anywhere but will make it look like he “Took it to them!” He’s loving the media spotlight esp national the money is just icing on his cake.
Comment by Mason born Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 1:05 pm
=Good luck with policing that=
It will be pretty straight forward. Law enforcement and the SA’s will simply get the purchase records and then address the law breakers.
See, record keeping is important.
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 1:18 pm
==Can Beetle be far behind==
He’s the lead plaintiff in one of the cases so he is giving attention with his “celebrity.”
Comment by Big Dipper Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 1:35 pm
DeVore makes me wanna change my nickname to “Lionel ‘And I get to keep this bird cage’ Hutz” /s?
Comment by Vote Quimby Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 1:35 pm
Since DeVore lost the election. This TRO win is his redemption and he’s sticking to the Governor and is tyrannical leadership. Everything is tyrannical to DeVore and his crew. What the Governor spent on the election is tyrannical. DeVore can’t change is narrative of the big bad mean Governor.
Comment by Club J Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 1:40 pm
@ Mason Born sums up DeVore,and his motivations, perfectly.
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 1:56 pm
== Isn’t his job to win cases for his plaintiffs?==
That is emphatically *not* an attorney’s job, and that’s lucky for DeVore because he’s lost some big cases.
==Several comments appear to imply that this is improper. How so?==
Lawyers have several ethical duties to their clients and the courts. The rules are often very specific (and written by attorneys themselves, so ultimately not exactly full of teeth) but the general animating principle behind them is that lawyers are supposed to put their clients’ interests first and vigorously advocate for their clients within the bounds of not doing harm to the greater cause of justice.
It’s hard to see how selling $200 tickets to a lawsuit fulfills that ideal.
Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 2:08 pm
JS
If someone covered by the tro makes a purchase during the TRO they aren’t breaking the law. Personally I think they’d need a follow on bill to let those be registered, providing of course the whole thing isn’t tossed.
Comment by Mason born Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 2:21 pm
Arsenal, how can you say, “emphatically,” that it’s not an attorney’s job to win his client’s case?
The parties in a lawsuit are named by which team in the game they represent. Defense attorneys defend, Plaintiff attorneys file complaints seeking a remedy. Each one takes money to accomplish that.
(insert spicy joke here about grifting)
Comment by 40,000 ft Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 3:14 pm
- 40,000 ft -
DeVore himself stated why he files some of his cases.
Win, lose, he gets paid, winning isn’t his… passion.
Social media trolling on vay-cay with “whomever” is the goal.
Cut rate grifters are the bane to the highest grifters and their acting as they care, asking for full price
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 3:28 pm
=how can you say, “emphatically,” that it’s not an attorney’s job to win his client’s case?=
I don’t recall the exact quote, but I think Devore previously acknowledged that winning was not his goal. I’m sure some resourceful commenter will provide the exact quote.
Comment by Pundent Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 3:31 pm
Curious if DeVore will try and take another round of clients now that the NRA has filed suit. Hopefully that depresses his ability to grift.
Comment by Mason born Tuesday, Jan 24, 23 @ 4:26 pm