Fred Baron's been busy

It was likely in early 2000 and I was slated to go on the Dennis McQuistion TV show in Dallas. The topic was tort reform and the flurry of mold cases in Texas. Fred Baron was slated to debate me on the topic. He was THE king of litigation having made his fortune on asbestos litigation. I had flown in from Houston where I had another speaking engagement, and was more than a bit excited about the prospect of going toe-to-toe with the mega trial lawyer. When I got to the studio and was in “makeup”, I overheard two men speaking – one was saying “I just can’t go on…I am not prepared…I can’t do it.” I stepped next door to find that Baron was backing out of the interview. So I almost debated Baron – and though I was prepared, I also realized that I could have gotten trounced. Even with right on my side, it would have been a challenging debate. The host ended up finding an attorney from the audience and we went on with the show.

Fast forward…I’m on vacation in Pensacola and learn of Fred Baron’s latest caper.

Baron is now in the news for admitting to paying (off?) Rielle Hunter and the former John Edwards campaign staffer Andrew Young. Ostensibly, he paid their relocation expenses when they moved from North Carolina anti a multi-million dollar home in California two years ago. The payments are as much as $15,000 a month, some news outlets have reported. Petty change to Baron.

Today, Dallas Democrats are coming to Baron’s defense, as Baron said he made the decision alone without consulting Edwards. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/080909dnmetbaron.29aa166d.html It’s not the first time he would have “gone it alone” as he has practically self-funded the Democratic Party of Texas, which could explain why Democrats are lining up to defend Baron. He has a long history in liberal politics.

Texas Lawyer had named him “Impact Player of the Year” in 2006.

Baron was behind the massive defeat of the Democrats in Dallas County by working to get out the vote. In 2006, two of the six new House Democrats are trial lawyers — and one of them, now Rep. Allen Vaught, is a former Baron & Budd associate.

His stated goal: to stop conservatives from reshaping the civil justice system --http://www.law.com/jsp/tx/PubArticleTX.jsp?id=900005470103.

Ralph Nader is his mentor -- While a student at the University of Texas School of Law, Baron says he was "proselytized" by a speech given by Ralph Nader about using "the law as an instrument of social change to regulate corporate conduct.

Edwards’ affair wasn’t Baron’s first cheating scandal. http://www.dallasobserver.com/2001-03-29/news/homefryin-with-fred-baron/

In 1997, Baron’s firm was accused of telling plaintiffs to lie in depositions. The allegations were backed up by a 20-page internal document titled "Preparing for Your Deposition," which had been inadvertently turned over to an asbestos defense attorney by one of Baron’s associates. Imagine what the defense attorney felt when he read it.

Among its instructions, the memo suggested many answers that clients should provide opposing counsel. "You will be asked if you ever saw any WARNING labels on containers of the asbestos products that said WARNING or DANGER," the memo said. "It is important to maintain that you NEVER saw any labels on asbestos products that said WARNING or DANGER."

A Dallas County district judge referred the issue to a State Bar of Texas grievance committee as well as to a Dallas County grand jury, which could explain why Baron was eager to sweep the judicial seats from Republicans and put his cronies in place, though no one took action against his firm.

Baron’s Edwards support was early and deep – after all, they were both trial lawyers who had earned a King’s fortune off lawsuits. When Edwards didn’t get the nomination last time around, Baron joined the Kerry team and helped get Edwards on that ticket.

Baron created the Texas Democratic Trust, a state PAC and funded it almost single-handedly. He was able to get Democrats to agree to pool their finances and push a straight-ticket vote. It worked in Dallas County.

According to Texas Shark Watch, “Fred Baron, an asbestos personal injury trial lawyer, has given millions in soft money to the national and state Democratic Parties. Baron has also donated hundreds of thousands to dozens of liberal Democrats like Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, Tom Daschle, Barbara Boxer, Chet Edwards, Tony Sanchez, Kirk Watson, and Eliot Shapleigh. However, Baron has also donated $20,000 to the gubernatorial campaign of revolting Republican Carole Keeton Strayhorn, $4,000to Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst, and $1,000 to Republican Senator Arlen Specter. In the 2006 GOP primary, Baron gave $2,500 to Wade Gent, a plaintiff lawyer who unsuccessfully challenged conservative Republican incumbent Betty Brown.”

Baron is quoted in the 2006 Texas Lawyer article by Mark Donald (linked earlier in this post) as saying that with a few million dollars he’s made progress – but according to Baron. "The real marker is 2010 when we redistrict again. In order to have a say in redistricting, we need to win the state House or the Senate or statewide office. And I think that is doable."

Baron has contributed to James R. Jordan’s campaign. Jordan is running against Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Wallace B. Jefferson.

Baron has also contributed to Annie's List, a pro-abortion PAC. Here is what the Williamson County GOP issued this week:

John Edwards Scandal has Williamson County Link.
Diana Maldonado urged to reject “toxic money”.

Round Rock, TX – The scandal involving former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards and his former National Finance Chairman Frederick Baron has links to the race for House District 52 and the campaign of democrat Diana Maldonado. Baron has been at the center of controversy for paying what has been characterized as “hush money” to Edwards’ mistress and he has admitted to moving her into hiding.

In April of this year Edwards’ ‘hush money man’ Baron contributed $25,000 to Annie’s List, the pro-abortion PAC. In the same reporting period Maldonado received a $25,000 contribution from this PAC.

“Baron is a liberal trial lawyer known for job killing lawsuits involving toxic chemical cases. This toxic money that was laundered and paid to Maldonado is a dirty down payment on corrupt and immoral behavior.” said Bill Fairbrother, Williamson County Republican Party Chairman. “Imagine the message this 'hush money' sends to our children. It says that if you make a mistake you do not have take responsibility for your actions.”

“It is time for Maldonado to take responsibility and reject this contribution. If she fails to reject this contribution she is aiding and abetting this corrupt behavior.” Fairbrother continued, “Williamson County families expect a high standard from their candidates and officeholders. Clearly actions such as this are out of touch with Williamson County values.” said Fairbrother.

To right this wrong, Chairman Fairbrother sent Maldonado a letter (attached) with a pre-stamped envelope so that she can contribute the $25,000 to the Williamson County Children’s Advocacy Center.