Like us on Facebook (don't let them censor another conservative site!):

Latest leftist Ted Cruz smear: he was an attorney with clients

OH NO! Ted Cruz was an attorney who actually had clients! What a scoop of poop from leftist rag Mother Jones. This is the latest attempt by Mother Jones and the leftists propaganda media to try and smear Ted Cruz. Of course, it’s no like Ted Cruz was an attorney who was kicked off the Watergate commission for fraud and ethics violations like Hillary Clinton or anything. But that damn Ted Cruz fellow was an attorney with corporations as clients! WOW!

Latest leftist Ted Cruz smear: he was an attorney with clients
Latest leftist Ted Cruz smear: he was an attorney with clients – Image credit: Legal Insurrection.

Old and busted: Lawyer jokes. New hotness: Agenda journalist jokes. At Mother Jones, David Corn blows the lid off of Ted Cruz’ career as an attorney before going into public service. Did you know that Cruz represented clients as an attorney, who actually needed legal services? Commence pearl clutching!

After serving over five years as the state of Texas’ top lawyer, Cruz in 2008 joined the Houston office of the high-powered, international law firm Morgan Lewis to lead its Supreme Court and national appellate practice. He stepped down as a partner in the firm after being elected a US senator in 2012. During his stint at Morgan Lewis, Cruz, who casts himself as a politician who stands on principle, handled several cases that cut against his political stances. He twice worked on cases in New Mexico to secure $50 million-plus jury awards (though, as a politician, he has called for tort reform that would prevent these sorts of awards). He assisted a lawsuit filed by a man who was wrongfully convicted of murder and nearly executed (though, as a politician, he has insisted the criminal justice system functions just fine when it comes to capital punishment). And in one case, he filed a brief supporting President Barack Obama’s stimulus (though, as a politician, Cruz has slammed this Obama initiative).
But much of the time, Cruz represented corporate clients. He was a lawyer for Kraft in a major lawsuit against Starbucks. He represented Pfizer when a California county accused the drug manufacturer and other pharmaceutical firms of overcharging. (In a win for Big Pharma, the Supreme Court tossed out the case.) He defended Eagle Freight Systems when drivers sued the company seeking unpaid overtime wages and expenses. (Cruz lost a bid to uphold a lower court ruling that shut down the drivers’ suit. Two years later, when Cruz was no longer involved in the case, the trucking company prevailed.) In a controversial move, he represented a Pennsylvania developer, who was a central player in a corruption scandal that exploited juveniles, handling a dispute this crooked developer had with his insurance company.

Cruz, a tea party favorite who calls himself a “courageous conservative,” has railed against “crony capitalism” and decried “corporate welfare.” He has boasted that he authored “legislation to end federal dollars subsidizing corporate fat cats.” Yet as a private legal gun-for-hire—who billed at least $695 per hour—Cruz sometimes defended corporations that engaged in sleazy practices to screw the little guy or gal.