The Fall of the House of Zeus

The Rise and Ruin of America's Most Powerful Trial Lawyer

Biography & Memoir, Reference, Nonfiction, History, Americas, United States, Social & Cultural Studies, Political Science
Cover of the book The Fall of the House of Zeus by Curtis Wilkie, Crown/Archetype
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Curtis Wilkie ISBN: 9780307460721
Publisher: Crown/Archetype Publication: October 19, 2010
Imprint: Crown Language: English
Author: Curtis Wilkie
ISBN: 9780307460721
Publisher: Crown/Archetype
Publication: October 19, 2010
Imprint: Crown
Language: English

“Over the past four decades no reporter has critiqued the American South with such evocative sensitivity and bedrock honesty as Curtis Wilkie.”
—Douglas Brinkley

The Fall of the House of Zeus tells the story of Dickie Scruggs, arguably the most successful plaintiff's lawyer in America. A brother-in-law of Trent Lott, the former U.S. Senate Majority Leader, Scruggs made a fortune taking on mass tort lawsuits against “Big Tobacco” and the asbestos industries. He was hailed by Newsweek as a latter day Robin Hood, and portrayed in the movie, The Insider, as a dapper aviator-lawyer. Scruggs’ legal triumphs rewarded him lavishly, and his success emboldened both his career maneuvering and his influence in Southern politics--but at a terrible cost, culminating in his spectacular fall, when he was convicted for conspiring to bribe a Mississippi state judge.

Based on extensive interviews, transcripts, and FBI recordings never made public, The Fall of the House of Zeus exposes the dark side of Southern and Washington legal games and power politics: the swirl of fixed cases, blocked investigations, judicial tampering, and a zealous prosecution that would eventually ensnare not only Scruggs but his own son, Zach, in the midst of their struggle with insurance companies over Hurricane Katrina damages. In gripping detail, Curtis Wilkie crafts an authentic legal thriller propelled by a “welter of betrayals and personal hatreds,” providing large supporting parts for Trent Lott and Jim Biden, brother of then-Senator Joe, and cameos by John McCain, Al Gore, and other DC insiders and influence peddlers.

Above all, we get to see how and why the mighty fail and fall, a story as gripping and timeless as a Greek tragedy.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

“Over the past four decades no reporter has critiqued the American South with such evocative sensitivity and bedrock honesty as Curtis Wilkie.”
—Douglas Brinkley

The Fall of the House of Zeus tells the story of Dickie Scruggs, arguably the most successful plaintiff's lawyer in America. A brother-in-law of Trent Lott, the former U.S. Senate Majority Leader, Scruggs made a fortune taking on mass tort lawsuits against “Big Tobacco” and the asbestos industries. He was hailed by Newsweek as a latter day Robin Hood, and portrayed in the movie, The Insider, as a dapper aviator-lawyer. Scruggs’ legal triumphs rewarded him lavishly, and his success emboldened both his career maneuvering and his influence in Southern politics--but at a terrible cost, culminating in his spectacular fall, when he was convicted for conspiring to bribe a Mississippi state judge.

Based on extensive interviews, transcripts, and FBI recordings never made public, The Fall of the House of Zeus exposes the dark side of Southern and Washington legal games and power politics: the swirl of fixed cases, blocked investigations, judicial tampering, and a zealous prosecution that would eventually ensnare not only Scruggs but his own son, Zach, in the midst of their struggle with insurance companies over Hurricane Katrina damages. In gripping detail, Curtis Wilkie crafts an authentic legal thriller propelled by a “welter of betrayals and personal hatreds,” providing large supporting parts for Trent Lott and Jim Biden, brother of then-Senator Joe, and cameos by John McCain, Al Gore, and other DC insiders and influence peddlers.

Above all, we get to see how and why the mighty fail and fall, a story as gripping and timeless as a Greek tragedy.

More books from Political Science

Cover of the book Aid and Authoritarianism in Africa by Curtis Wilkie
Cover of the book Buddhist Practice and Visual Culture by Curtis Wilkie
Cover of the book Accountability in Crises and Public Trust in Governing Institutions by Curtis Wilkie
Cover of the book The Wandering Thought of Hannah Arendt by Curtis Wilkie
Cover of the book The Outcast Majority by Curtis Wilkie
Cover of the book Squandered Victory by Curtis Wilkie
Cover of the book Statistical Modeling and Inference for Social Science by Curtis Wilkie
Cover of the book The Fate of the West by Curtis Wilkie
Cover of the book Peacebuilding, Memory and Reconciliation by Curtis Wilkie
Cover of the book Don't Trust, Don't Fear, Don't Beg by Curtis Wilkie
Cover of the book Die wahren Sozialisten by Curtis Wilkie
Cover of the book Non superare la soglia by Curtis Wilkie
Cover of the book Zhao Ziyang and China's Political Future by Curtis Wilkie
Cover of the book The influence of the EU Neutrals on European Security and Defence Policy by Curtis Wilkie
Cover of the book Global Justice and Due Process by Curtis Wilkie
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy