Without these firms, corporate defendants have these poor consumers just where they want them.

Plaintiffs' lawyers can file nationwide class actions in any state they choose, so long as a corporate defendant does business there.

The corporate defendants face a maximum penalty of $5 million each.

There are benefits to noncash settlements that make them particularly attractive to corporate defendants.

Prosecutors are aware of their power, as are potential corporate defendants.

Traditional due process safeguards, like the right to confront witnesses, can't protect the potential corporate defendant.

"Jury studies indicate that blacks are more sympathetic to plaintiffs and less likely to have faith in corporate defendants."

He spent several years with a large law firm that represented corporate defendants.

To date, 30 of the 49 individuals and 14 of the 16 corporate defendants have pleaded guilty.

By the time the trial started, there were thirty-eight corporate defendants.