This satirical thriller reveals how our legal system enables lawyers to get filthy rich. As Mortimer Zuckerman, real estate magnate and media billionaire, once said, “Practicing law is the exact opposite of sex. Even when it’s good, it’s bad.”
David Tabatsky – 5 October 2022
The Back Flap
The satirical legal thriller from Brian Felgoise, who has been practicing class-action law for more than 25 years, and co-author David Tabatsky, is infused with scenarios loosely based on real-world interactions that Felgoise had with lawyers, judges and plaintiffs.
The story begins in a Texas courtroom, where Ryan Coleman, a young, ambitious lawyer from Philadelphia, is chasing his share of a class-action lawsuit involving a multi-national defense contractor. After getting reprimanded by the judge for speaking out of turn, Coleman meets Robert Smalley, a brilliant attorney and borderline criminal who boasts that, “I have the greatest practice of law in the world because I have no clients.”
And with that, Coleman is drawn into a hedonistic world of wealth and power at the core of Filthy Rich Lawyers.
Included in the cast of colorful characters is Eugenia “Gene” Cauley, a female shark in the male-dominated legal world whose life spirals tragically out of control, and Randy Hollis, an insanely successful lawyer turned multi-billionaire, who is pursuing his ultimate American dream: buying a professional football team. Coleman becomes Hollis’ “errand boy,” but as Hollis is investigated by journalists, law associations and government agents, Coleman must decide if he wants to remain in this sordid circle.
Federal prosecutor Patrick Coyle wants to take Hollis down because of an old grudge. He aligns with Dick Dickey, former Secretary of Defense and CEO of a military contractor, to ruin Hollis and Coleman. When an escort mysteriously dies in Hollis’ penthouse, Coleman becomes an unwitting accomplice and must choose between protecting his boss and saving his marriage, or telling the truth and risk going to prison.
Filthy Rich Lawyers reveals the surprising ways in which our system of class-action law enables (mostly) men to get ridiculously wealthy and behave like sophomoric frat boys
About the book
What is the book about?
DT: Filthy Rich Lawyers is about an ambitious attorney from Philadelphia who chases his share of a class- action lawsuit, and gets reamed by a federal judge in Dallas. During this “trial-by-fire,” Ryan Coleman meets Eugenia Cauley, a female legal shark whose life ends tragically, and Robert Smalley, a brilliant attorney and borderline criminal who boasts that “I have the greatest practice of law in the world. I have no clients.” Coleman enters a hedonistic world of wealth and power, and becomes an errand boy and fixer for Randy Hollis, an insanely successful lawyer who is trying to buy a professional football team. Patrick Coyle, a prosecutor with an old grudge, and Dick Dickey, former Secretary of Defense and CEO of a military contractor, try to ruin Hollis and Coleman. When an escort mysteriously dies in Hollis’ penthouse, Coleman must choose between telling the truth or going to jail. This satirical thriller reveals how our legal system enables lawyers to get filthy rich. As Mortimer Zuckerman, real estate magnate and media billionaire, once said, “Practicing law is the exact opposite of sex. Even when it’s good, it’s bad.”
When did you start writing the book?
DT: The first version began more than a year ago. The novel was started in November 2021 and was competed in March 2022.
How long did it take you to write it?
DT: Approximately five months.
Where did you get the idea from?
DT: We originally put together a non-fiction version, based on the real-life experiences of attorney Brian Felgoise, who spent more than two decades working in class action law.
BF: After my literary agent, Nancy Rosenfeld, was unsuccessful in finding a publisher, I decided to create a novel based on my experiences. David and I developed the characters and a chapter outline, which was needed for the book proposal Nancy used to land a publisher. The main character is very loosely based on me; however Ryan graduated from Temple Law School, as I did, and he and I both lost our fathers at unusually young ages.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
DT: Sure, that happens throughout, whether it’s a struggle to get one word just right, a dialogue, or a central twist in the plot. Struggles are part of the process.
BF: Midway through Book One, we changed the gender of one of the lead lawyers, which meant a large portion had to be rewritten. It was not a struggle per se, but David and I had a lengthy conversation about the change. We both felt that it should be made because there are a few women sharks in the securities class action field, which initially gave me the idea, and I am a big supporter of women, having a wife and two daughters in their early 20s. I wanted to show them that women can be successful in a male dominated field.
What came easily?
BF: Since David and I created a thorough chapter outline for the book proposal we had a strong path to follow, even though we did not end up following it to the letter. Our book is fiction so we were free to push things to the extreme, which was often quite fun to do.
DT: The dialogue was probably the easiest part.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
BF: Basically, all of the characters are loosely based on real life people. I stress the word “loosely.” For instance, lawyers who practice in the securities class action field will know exactly who inspired the character of Randy Hollis. This lawyer, who I was friendly with, took the millions he made from class actions and started a hedge fund. By the way, this lawyer is not short and not a narcissist, as Hollis is portrayed. Hollis claims to use escorts because he does not want to fall in love and potentially lose his fortune. That is B.S., as he can enter into a prenuptial agreement, as many wealthy people do. Hollis simply does not have the ability to fall in love with a woman because his whole life is about making money. Instead of buying a NFL franchise, the real person purchased a hockey team in the NHL.
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
DT: Jack Kerouac, for his pace and tempo, Mark Twain for his satirical wit, and David Mamet for his dialogue.
BF: I must have read more than 40 books by James Patterson. One of the things I like most is the short chapters. David agreed.
Do you have a target reader?
BF: We want to appeal to an audience that loves legal thrillers and satire. I joked with David early on that I want to do for the legal field what Tom Wolfe did for the investment banking field with Bonfire of the Vanities.
DT: Anyone looking for a fun and easy good reading experience.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
DT: My process is fluid and changes with the weather.
BF: At the University of Pittsburgh, I always had classic rock playing at a low volume when I was writing because it helps me concentrate by blocking out other noise.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
BF: We had a detailed outline for the proposal, and we followed it throughout the writing, with several side-trips and detours.
DT: Yes, outlines are helpful, but it’s important to scrap your plans when good surprises come.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
DT: Both.
Did you hire a professional editor?
DT: I have done a lot of professional editing, and we also used a handful of proofreaders.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
DT: That’s private.
BF: Classic rock
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
DT: We had an agent lined up when the writing began.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
DT: It’s a tough field to crack, so a small indie press was fine.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
DT: We worked closely with the publisher, who contracted the designer.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
BF: We hired Ascot Media Group to promote Filthy Rich Lawyers and an independent consultant to design and manage our website and social media.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
DT: Drink plenty of water.
BF: Never give up. You need to keep going and never give up. If I gave up, I would have never signed the book deal with Speaking Volumes to publish a two-book series, and I was able to give the world Ryan Coleman.
About You
Where did you grow up?
DT: I grew up mostly in New England. My mother was born near Philly and I spent a lot of time there with my Nana and Pop-pop and then later, when my daughter went to Penn.
BF: I grew up in Montgomery County, a suburban area outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Where do you live now?
DT: New York City.
BF: I live in Montgomery County in Pennsylvania.
What would you like readers to know about you?
DT: It makes me happy when readers buy my books for their friends.
BF: I would like readers to know that I am a normal guy who has been married for 26+ years and has two daughters in their early 20s. I am involved in a neighborhood low-stakes poker game. I am a diehard Eagles and Phillies fan and I attend as many games as I can.
What are you working on now?
DT and BF: Book Two of Filthy Rich Lawyers called In Due Time.
End of Interview:
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