I knew that eventually someone would forget the reason why I recommend make written complaints to the State Bar and Attorney General.
It isn't to force revolutionary change through the organizations taking actions themselves! It is forcing change through the secondary and tertiary effects of making those complaints.
Up until recently, as far as I know NO ONE knew or saw what an Attorney General complaint meant except for me. I already explained that it would probably take MANY, MANY complaints for them to even consider doing anything. Of course, the "severity" of the complaints is a big determining factor. What "crime" or fraud is being committed?
The secondary and tertiary benefits is that there is a governmental agency that makes it their business to preserve and report any and all complaints to anyone that asks however minute. They don't make judgment on the complaints. That means the complainer has to get smart. For me, I should probably modify the advice given to make a complaint to list INDIVIDUALS involved.
Because Getty Images is a a large company making tons of money, very few employees really care that the name Getty Images is being disparaged. Employees work at Getty Images to make money, that's it. At the end of every workday at 5pm, they could care less about Getty Images. But you start listing the individuals on the complaints, I guarantee it will ruffle some feathers. A Getty Images "chain of command" of employees behind the compliance department has been provided on the ELI Forums for those that want it. Everyone also has a right to ask for a supervisor and manager to speak and escalate their matter to in their extortion letter cases. The minute they DON'T escalate or simply refuse to give out their managers names, all bets are off and you publicize the individual names because it is based on actual documented research, not just a fictional list of names.
Some complaints are better than others. It is in who does the complaining. I guarantee you when I make a written complaint and if I am determined to make maximum collateral damage, it becomes so heated and unpleasant most people run away and disappear. I am that good. I say that not to brag but to point out that I have provided LOTs of examples of past cases (all kinds of matters).
One thing I like about Greg Troy's recent effort to fight Getty is that he appears to get the commitment to the goal. Personally, I think it is a bit overkill given what we know of how Getty operates but no one can say he isn't hitting back hard.
For many people, it isn't the instrument. It is what you are willing to do with that instrument and how hard and blunt you will use it to create maximum damage. Please don't take this out of context. I don't subscribe to violence and I don't subscribe to making up fiction. Don't make threats/bluffs you can't keep. But do be committed to doing what it takes in making a powerful written complaint.
Regarding State Bar complaints, I told everyone that the chances of an attorney being disbarred over extortion letters is very slim. However, state bar complaints are rare because most people don't even know there is such a thing. State bar complaints hurt the pride and embarrass the attorney more than anything else. Any attorney that has any pride or care about their reputation will absolutely pay attention to state bar complaints no matter how trivial it might be.
As far as I can tell, it becomes a part of their permanent record and is an ongoing reminder to watch how attorneys conduct themselves. I guarantee you Timmy McCormack is much more aware and has a tighter leash on his paralegals than before.
The BBB can be a help but I largely believe they are a joke of an organization working under false pretenses. They may claim to be non-profit but they are very much "for profit". They are busy selling their memberships, asking for donations, etc. from businesses. So, they can never really go after businesses in a tough way. They are similar to the RipOffReport. You play ball with the BBB and give them money and you too can have a stellar rating.
Topic: Getty Images and Complaints filed with the Washington State Attorney General (Read 15733 times)