Is that true, that Americans are tend to call their lawyers during every conflicting situation?

r/

In many movies I have seen how Americans (in case of conflict situations) immediately say to their opponent – “In that case, you will speak with my lawyer!” or “See you in court!”

Is it true that Americans are litigious?

Comments

  1. ExistentialTabarnak Avatar

    Yes, we each get assigned a personal lawyer at birth who remains with us for the duration of our lives.

  2. TheFacetiousDeist Avatar

    No. Most of us can’t even afford one.

  3. notthegoatseguy Avatar

    We’re not even the most litigious country.

    Even if we were, why is it a bad thing for a government to provide a neutral ground to settle disputes?

  4. azuth89 Avatar

    It’s just a movie trope.

  5. Ancient0wl Avatar

    I don’t have a lawyer and I don’t know anybody who retains a lawyer. It’s all movie talk.

  6. MyNextVacation Avatar

    No. People call an attorney if they are arrested, getting a divorce, get a DUI or reckless driving charge. We might have a lawyer to prepare a will, research something real estate related, or hire one to send a cease and desist letter if we are stalked or harassed.

    Suing someone is expensive and who wants to throw money away and waste vacation time?

  7. porkchopespresso Avatar

    If saying “do you have any idea who my father is??” doesn’t strike fear in those situations then yes, we are constitutionally bound to warn them that they will in fact be hearing from our lawyers.

  8. ChessedGamon Avatar

    real answer, no

    real answer: my sister ate the leftover cake I was saving from yesterday and I’m seeking restitution of about $10,000

  9. 44035 Avatar

    When I watched Adolescence on Netflix, I noticed the British system is pretty similar in that they immediately tell the suspect to say nothing until the lawyer arrives. So I don’t think it’s just an American thing.

  10. hitometootoo Avatar

    >Is that true, that Americans are tend to call their lawyers during every conflicting situation?

    No. This is a common (though not really widespread) thing that some people say in an attempt to scare a cop to not arrest them, but it largely doesn’t happen because most people don’t have a lawyer they retain. Lawyers are expensive, most Americans don’t have money or a need for such things.

    >Is it true that Americans are litigious?

    No, this isn’t true. We have more access to lawyers as every person is allowed the opportunity to have a lawyer present even if they can’t afford one (the state will provide one for free).

    The most litigious countries are Germany, Sweden, Israel, Austria… then the U.S. is behind those, followed up by the UK, Denmark, Hungary, Portugal and France. We also have to remember that every country has the same means for suing others or having legal council.

  11. MrLongWalk Avatar

    Not at all, to the point where people will think this is a trolling question

  12. SouthernExpatriate Avatar

    A lot of lawyers are useless

  13. OhThrowed Avatar

    Is it true that all Russian movies are documentaries and completely based in fact?

  14. jettech737 Avatar

    Most of the time when someone does say it it’s just an empty threat. Lawyers aren’t cheap, well good lawyers aren’t cheap.

    We do use lawyers for other things like preparing wills, criminal defense, or assistance in creating contracts.

  15. Rarewear_fan Avatar

    Only wealthy people do that

  16. Timmoleon Avatar

    It could happen if you do something bad enough, but I’ve never heard of it with anyone I know except a business owner with a dispute. It pops up in movies because movies tend to feature rare dramatic events. 

  17. tcspears Avatar

    Not sure what the context was in the movie, but there are lots of legal protections in the US where you can use a lawyer… but in terms of daily life, most Americans aren’t interacting with a lawyer that often, unless they are getting divorced, buying a home/business, were accused of a crime, or are pressing charges on a person or business. Most Americans would probably have to Google the nearest attorney if they ever needed one, as it’s not a common situation to need one.

  18. Cheap_Coffee Avatar

    Sorta. My wife’s a lawyer. Haven’t won and argument since we got married. I have given thought to having professional representation at our next spat.

  19. Current_Poster Avatar

    No. Tell me where you are, so I can throw stereotypes.

  20. jeophys152 Avatar

    We can’t afford lawyers lol

  21. mmaalex Avatar

    As with everything, it varies regionally.

    Big cities tend to be more litigous, but it’s still rare to sue or be sued for anything outside of a car accident (which will be handled by insurance and typically doesn’t make it to court)

  22. Justmakethemoney Avatar

    No. Most people don’t have enough money for that. It’s something people say to scare others into complying with what they want.

    Are there people that litigious? Yea, they tend to be pro se (representing themselves). Source: am law librarian. Some of my regulars are that litigious (also, often mentally jll), and they try and sue over the most stupid shit.

  23. rosyred-fathead Avatar

    Most ordinary Americans don’t have a lawyer on retainer, no

  24. Pernicious_Possum Avatar

    Only wealthy people have lawyers on retainer. Very few of us have a couple grand we don’t need to that

  25. HereForTheBoos1013 Avatar

    lol, a bit, but not like, say, the Germans, at least not so far as reputation.

    It’s both a common legal trope as well as usually, a totally empty threat we throw around when we’re upset. Most people who say “you’ll be hearing from my lawyer” don’t have a lawyer on retainer (which is expensive), and certainly not a family attorney and are trying a bluster as a last ditch effort at maintaining their dignity or expressing their discontent.

    Unless you’re rich or deeply involved in a corporation or something, we don’t have lawyers, plus lawyers specialize in different things. Having a bankruptcy lawyer or a contract attorney or dating in house counsel for an insurance company (which I’m doing) doesn’t really translate to “I’ll see you in court for dinging my car”.

    Once someone is actively involved in a court case or legal issue and has retained a lawyer, *then* the smart thing is to do everything through your lawyer. So in a criminal case where you are the accused, saying “talk to my attorney” isn’t just a litigious or American issue, it’s the best way to have your rights represented.

  26. DivaJanelle Avatar

    There are dummies who throw out “you’ll hear from my lawyer” every time something doesn’t go their way or they are the tiniest bit put out.

    1/ they see the trope in Tv/movies and are copying the language

    2/ they don’t have a lawyer unless it was for their DUI or divorce and don’t understand that civil cases are different

    3/ if they do bother to actually talk to an attorney they find out their little issues is not actionable

    But yes corporations have attorneys either in house or on retainer and that’s where entertainment media get the trope from

  27. RobinFarmwoman Avatar

    Yes, everything in my life is just like a movie. I have a lawyer on retainer, and I am never seen in public without perfect hair and makeup. /s

  28. MuchDevelopment7084 Avatar

    It’s all movie nonsense. I don’t know anyone that has a lawyer. Much less one on retainer.

  29. BlueRFR3100 Avatar

    Movies often feature people that have reasons to have a lawyer on retainer. Like a corporate executive that embezzles money.

  30. ParticularBuyer6157 Avatar

    I nor anyone else I know has a lawyer

  31. ThatGirl_Tasha Avatar

    We do also have a thing called small claims court. Like if someone sold you a bicycle that turn out to be held together with super glue.

    No lawyers are allowed in snall claims and it has to be under a certain amount (usually like $5,000), and the filing fees are lower. 

    Rich people keep a lawyer on retainer, so they can call them over everything . But otherwise suing someone is really expensive. 

    It also takes forever to get in to see one, if they’re not on retainer.

    There are other factors though. Insurance companies will sue on your behalf.  Unions will represent a worker with an attorney if they need one. And if a person is arrested they will be aassigned a defender if they can’t afford one.

  32. DBDude Avatar

    Most of the time when someone says you’ll hear from their lawyer they are bluffing. Lawyers are expensive, and smart people who really intend to sue won’t give that advanced warning.

    However, we are very litigious when it comes to companies and rich people. The best comment I’ve seen on this was an old comic strip called Bloom County. It was after Sean Penn hit a photographer, and a character in the comic was hit by him too.

  33. GoodbyeForeverDavid Avatar

    No, it’s just TV. In other news London has no ministry of magic. Carpets don’t fly in the middle east. There are no dragons in china. And street racers don’t become an elite crime fighting groups obsessed with being family.

  34. Specific-Jury4270 Avatar

    Yes, if you look at me the wrong way I will be calling my lawyer who was assigned to me at conception ( like every other American) and I will see you in court.

  35. Cat_herder_81 Avatar

    I’m 43.

    The only time I’ve ever needed a lawyer was when I was arrested for simple battery, and when workers comp wouldn’t cover medical expenses for an injury I received at work.

  36. Highly_Regarded_1 Avatar

    I don’t think most of us can afford lawyers.

  37. frank-sarno Avatar

    My company offers a legal service for about $20/month that helps with legal issues (adoptions, disputes, etc.). I’ve used it a couple times over the past few years for disputes with an airline and a hotel. I’ve never said, “See you in court!” to anyone though.

  38. pokematic Avatar

    It’s only for rich people or corporations where people have a lawyer on retainer. Very successful edge lord youtubers who regularly find themselves in lawsuits have a lawyer on retainer and will say “I had my lawyer talk to the complainers, my video stays up,” and multi-million dollar media corporations regularly “have their lawyers file complaints,” but it’s not like it’s something most people say.

  39. CauseSpecific8545 Avatar

    This trope is an effort by big corporations to get support for legislation to make holding businesses accountable for malfeasance more difficult.

    The famous example is the woman who got burned by hot coffee. She was served liquid far too hot to be considered a food item. When the cup spilled on her she got 3rd degree burns that required extensive medical treatment.

    When big companies get sued for making people sick or injured they lose a lot of money.

    To mitigate this they fund a public relations effort through multiple forms of media by influencing news and talk show topics to create the narrative that “People will sue over anything.” This bled over into other forms of media.

  40. TsundereLoliDragon Avatar

    Provide an example where you saw this in an unnecessary situation. In fact, provide an example where you saw this at all.

  41. somecow Avatar

    Hell no. Do you get a lawyer for free if you get arrested? Yes. Might take a while, so sit in jail.

    “See you in court” is real. Civil lawyers are real. But it takes a VERY long time (they forgot the 6th amendment).

  42. dulcimerist Avatar

    My job offers me legal services should I need them as a benefit.

    In 12 years of working here, I’ve not once used those services.

    Of all my friends and family, only 2 people that I know have ever gone to court (both were in a contentious divorce).

  43. Capelily Avatar

    Most Americans cannot afford a lawyer.

    Unless it’s on tv or in the movies.

  44. terra_technitis Avatar

    If someone says that, they probably are making an empty threat and likely won’t do anything. The ones you have to worry about won’t say a word to you and will wait to file a suit at the last possible moment, often a couple of years, depending on the jurisdiction and the issue at hand. That way, you’ll be more likely to forget important details, lose contact with other parties involved, and possibly make other mistakes that will be more difficult to hide from the discovery process.