Attorney Willie Gary, frequently mentioned in this space (see Apr. 1-2, 2002 and links from there) sent out 275,000 invitations this year to his annual holiday party in Stuart, Fla., a fabulous bash that has been called South Florida’s premiere party; tens of thousands attended (Tyler Treadway, “Liberally distributed, invitations to Gary festival more elaborate each” (sic), TCPalm.com (Scripps newspapers), Dec. 11; “Thousands take part in Gary’s holiday fete”, Dec. 13). Gary had an extra reason to celebrate this year, because a jury on Dec. 12 awarded $18 million to one of his clients, a road builder who said he was defamed by an investigative-journalism piece in the Gannett chain’s Pensacola News-Journal (see Mar. 30, 2001). (“Florida jury awards $18 million to road builder”, AP/First Amendment Center, Dec. 16). (More on case: Jan. 7; appeals court reverses, Oct. 25, 2006)

In Houston, meanwhile, trial lawyer W. Mark Lanier expects 5,000 holiday attendees at his 25-acre estate for what he bills as the “best party in the world”, now in its twelfth year. Lanier, who is noted for buying asbestos items on eBay and in 1998 won a $115 million verdict for 21 plaintiffs in an asbestos case, hired Bill Cosby to entertain the crowd this year; previous years’ talent have included Barry Manilow, Crosby, Stills, and Nash, Diana Ross, and the Dixie Chicks. (Jonathan D. Glater, “Houston Holiday: Barbecue, Al Green and 5,000 Guests”, New York Times, Dec. 15)(fee archive) Incidentally, the Times also reports the following: “‘I support tort reform that gets rid of the garbage cases,’ said Mr. Lanier, who is a Republican. ‘I do not support the medical malpractice reform because I think it hurts the good cases and doesn’t do anything to restrict the garbage cases.'”

Filed under: asbestos, Mark Lanier, Willie Gary