Lawyers Win #MeToo Cases, But Here’s the Catch: Clients Rarely See a Dime
Let’s be real—the #MeToo movement changed everything. Powerful men actually started facing consequences for once. But here’s the thing no one talks about: winning in court doesn’t mean squat if you never get paid. I’ve been following these cases closely, and man, it’s frustrating. Take Alki David—billionaire, Coke heir, and apparently a real piece of work. Women won against him, sure. But getting him to pay up? That’s a whole other story.
When “Winning” Feels Like Losing
So this David guy—media mogul, loads of cash—keeps getting sued for harassment. Big-name lawyers like Gloria Allred take these cases, and they win! One woman got $58 million on paper. That’s huge, right? But paper money doesn’t pay rent. David’s been dodging payments like it’s his job—appeals, offshore accounts, the whole playbook. And honestly? It’s genius in the worst possible way.
Here’s how it works: rich guys treat court fines like parking tickets—annoying, but optional. They’ll stall, hide assets, whatever it takes. Meanwhile, the women who sued? They’re stuck in legal purgatory. One plaintiff told me (off the record, obviously) “It’s like they give you a trophy but break your legs on the way out.” Dark, but accurate.
Why the System’s Rigged
Think about it—if you’re rich and lose a lawsuit, you’ve got options. Bankruptcy. Appeals. Shell companies in the Caymans. But if you’re the victim? You’re maxing out credit cards on legal fees while waiting years for justice. The system’s basically designed to exhaust you into giving up.
And don’t get me started on the lawyers. Allred and Bloom do great work, but they’re like the SEAL Team Six of #MeToo—only taking high-profile missions. What about the waitress getting harassed by her manager? She can’t afford a fancy lawyer, so her case dies in some backroom. That’s the real tragedy here.
The Weinstein Connection
Remember when Weinstein finally got convicted? Everyone cheered. But most of his victims still haven’t seen a penny from that $17 million settlement. Same playbook—delay, deny, wait for people to forget. It’s not a bug in the system; it’s a feature.
So What Changes Anything?
Honestly? I’m not sure. Maybe we need laws that freeze assets the second someone loses a harassment case. Or make defendants pay legal fees upfront. Something with teeth. Because right now, these verdicts are just expensive PR problems for rich creeps—not actual consequences.
The crazy part? #MeToo already did the impossible by making people listen. Now we’ve got to fix the part where justice actually means something. Otherwise, what’s the point?
Source: WSJ – US Business