BILL LERACH: ROBIN HOOD, THUG, HANGMAN, OR MARX BROTHER? . . . In London's Sunday Times, a reporter tried to capture the essence of lawyer Bill Lerach in a story about the potential liability of two British banks in the Enron case--

Leading the shareholders’ suit is Bill Lerach, one of the most colourful and successful lawyers in America. With his mop of white curly hair, Lerach looks like a well-fed Harpo Marx. A Robin Hood to some, a thug to others, Lerach has won billions from companies he has accused of ripping off shareholders. His hard-fighting style has often led to his opposition cutting a deal before going to court.

Armed with Fastow’s deposition, Lerach said the British banks are “doomed to lose”. “If they want to be smart and pay up, we are happy to settle. If they want to go to the gallows in front of a Houston jury, they can be my guest,” said Lerach.

Lerach is the sort of plaintiffs' lawyer who can make a writer's image-generating machine go a little haywire. For an older post about Lerach, see "The Wall Street Journal on Milberg Weiss."