Insurance company greed: "The Rainmaker"

[Catshrink]

Remember this film from 1997? It shows the insurance companies for what they are: profit centers with "death panels."

A young Tennessee lawyer fresh out of law school takes the case of his life in this amazing courtroom drama. When a big insurance company tries to keep from having to pay for the care that a young man diagnosed with leukemia needs, the family decides to hire a lawyer. Rudy (Damon) takes on this client in his first case after the head of his law office has to hide because he's wanted by the feds. He must overcome many obstacles inside and outside the courtroom as he attempts to find out what it means to be a lawyer and how far you have to go before you become a sell-out.

(Matt Damon, Danny DeVito, Claire Danes, dir. Francis Ford Coppola)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119978/

[BobRossi]

1. Good movie.

Unfortunately real life is much worse. The greed of the insurance companies knows no bounds, and their grip on politicians from both sides of the isle is a death grip for all Americans.

[Catshrink]

3. It's very timely.

Should be required viewing for the disrupters.

[Voice for Peace]

2. I just watched this movie again recently, it's excellent

and timeless unfortunately.

[Catshrink]

4. I loved it on so many levels.

Danny DeVito is a "para-lawyer" and Jon Voight is an evil SOB. Rudy beat them at their own game with the phone tap. But... aside from all that, it shows the insurance company for what it was: a greedy death panel.

[TorchTheWitch]

7. not just the insurance company but the justice system

and how it protects these slobs because they're so embedded with government. Had the first judge not died and a judge not in bed with Big Insurance and generally a mavericky sort taken over the case, it would have been an entirely different story.

I love the lesser side stories as well that touch on other important matters like the domestic abuse issue of the girl he meets in the hospital and how our culture ignores our elders like the issue with poor Miss Birdie who is ignored by her family until they believe she's wealthy.

[Catshrink]

8. The Roberts Court loves business

[TorchTheWitch]

13. as well as the lower courts

and it's been going on for a very long time.

[malaise]

5. Excellent movie n/t

[TorchTheWitch]

6. I've thought of this book a lot during this recent health insurance debate

Grishom got it and years before most people had any idea how huge and pervasive the problem was. When the book first came out I remember hoping that it would be made into a movie, and Coppola did a fine job of it. A very good book and a very good film... I highly recommend both.

[Catshrink]

9. Me too...

[scarletlib]

10. One of my favorite Grisham Novels

My husband and I still remember and quote to each other the final reply to the patient in its(the insurance company) last letter to him denying coverage: "You must be stupid, stupid, stupid."

[TexasObserver]

11. Recommend

[Blue_In_AK]

12. I really loved that book and the movie.

Since I worked as a legal secretary/paralegal for insurance defense firms for many years, I know it to be true.

[TorchTheWitch]

14. so did I

I also worked for an insurance company in claims. They're all the same... deny as a matter of course and gamble that the claiment doesn't get an attorney.

Being on the inside really makes you see just how disgusting the whole insurance racket is. I sure don't miss it or the teeny tiny paychecks for doing their dirty work.

[Blue_In_AK]

15. I don't miss it either.

These days I'm happy to stay home typing court transcripts (mostly criminal) which I've been doing since 2001. After 25 years in the civil lawsuit "biz," I was more than ready to get out. The criminal trials are a lot more interesting, and since I don't have to deal with ANY lawyers, it suits me just fine. :)