The Jamie Foxx Movie That Raises Questions For Star Attorney Willie Gary
Tom Boman, LawFuel contributor
In the latest Hollywood law dramatization, Jamie Foxx takes on the role of attorney Willie Gary in the new movie ‘The Burial,’ a movie that has raised ire and eyebrows among some of Gary’s former clients, as well as raising some some hard-hitting questions.
The real-life Willie Gary, despite his courtroom victories, is mired in controversy, only highlighted by the Amazon movie of his victories.
The movie portrays Gary’s journey from rags to legal riches, highlighting his major wins like the staggering $500 million case in 1995.
But this is where things become complicated: Gary, who has a cameo in the movie and uses it for marketing purposes, faces accusations from former clients of sexual misconduct and financial deception.
These are heavy claims, calling into question the ethics of glamorizing such a figure in mainstream media and raising serious ethical and other questions both for Willie E Gary and others who dramatize events and people.
One former Gary client, Ernestine Elliott, lost her daughter in a tragic car crash and turned to Gary for justice. Her expectations were shattered when Gary allegedly missed critical legal deadlines and under-delivered on the settlement, leading her to sue him.
This story isn’t unique to Elliott. A recent report from Business Insider reports that multiple ex-clients and a former secretary have accused Gary of similar misconduct.
In 2003 Gary was sued by a number of women who had sued Ford and other contractors before aiming at Gary, alleging that he had schemed to pay himself more money than he got for his clients. Of the $16 million paid to settle the case, Gary and his firm had paid themselves to over $9 million, according to court documents.
Lawrence Fox, an ethics expert the women hired, said in a report to the court that the Gary firm did essentially no work for $6 million of the $9 million it received. The firm was “literally taking money out of the hands of their clients,” he said in his report, which called the Gary firm’s behavior “unethical, even criminal.”
Gary “applied the very same modus operandi” when it sued other companies, which the report did not name.
Doesn’t this beg the question: Where do we draw the line in dramatizing real-life legal figures? How does a film like ‘The Burial,’ which casts Gary in a heroic light, impact the perception of the legal profession and those who have been allegedly wronged by these lawyers? Moreover, how does the legal community view such portrayals?
Gary’s story is undoubtedly compelling — a rise from poverty, overcoming odds to become a renowned lawyer with a stellar reputation as the ‘giant killer’ litigator and justice seeker.
But, when juxtaposed with these serious allegations, they give rise to questions about the ethical implications involving the glamorizing of lawyers in the celebrity stardust of movies.
Is it right to celebrate someone’s professional achievements while overlooking the alleged moral and legal failings? The questions that arise from the Willie Gary movie are matters that might arise with any, similar drama that paints a Hollywood picture of a celebrity lawyer but maybe avoids other issues that require serious examination.
What message does this send to the public and, importantly, to those who have sought justice through our legal system?
Then there’s the aspect of Hollywood’s portrayal of legal battles. ‘The Burial’ turns a contract dispute into a cinematic morality play. While artistic license is a given in movies, how far is too far, especially when real people’s lives and reputations are involved?
The story of Willie Gary and ‘The Burial’ opens up a Pandora’s box of ethical and moral questions about the portrayal of legal professionals in media. It’s a complex issue that intertwines the glamor of Hollywood with the gritty realities of the legal world.
As this film makes its way to the masses, these are the questions we should be asking, digging deeper into the intersection of legal ethics, media portrayal, and public perception.
Author –
Tom Boman is a regular legal writer who contributes to LawFuel on lawyer and law firm issues. He may be contacted at news@lawfuel.com
