Review
"The legal maneuvering, courtroom drama, and brisk pace make this a satisfying tale of greed, corruption, lust, and murder."
—Publishers Weekly
"You think you know the legal system? Mike Papantonio’s Law and Disorder is an eye-opener. This is a legal thriller that edifies. Papantonio recasts the role of mass tort lawyers from villains and bottom-feeders, framing them instead as heroes and the last defense against corporate money and vested interests. In his legal career the author has walked the walk; now he successfully talks the talk in this compelling David vs. Goliath story."
—Alan Russell, bestselling author of Burning Man
“The multidimensional brilliance of Mike Papantonio shines brightly through this can’t-put-it-down legal thriller. For a deep dive into law and politics, power and those who fight it, and the very human conflicts that drive and tear at us all, read Law and Disorder!”
—Thom Hartmann, nationally syndicated talk show host and best-selling author
“Law and Disorder is not only a legal thriller in true Grisham style—it is also an excellent window into the total dysfunction of the justice System. I literally couldn’t put it down.”
—Mark Geragos, renowned criminal defense attorney and author of Mistrial: An Inside Look at How the Criminal Justice System Works…and Sometimes Doesn’t
"Mass torts attorney Nick “Deke” Deketomis, the hero of trial lawyer and radio host Papantonio’s impassioned first novel, is unafraid to take on the country’s biggest companies for corporate wrongdoing. At a pretrial hearing in a Florida courtroom, Deke wishes to enter as evidence a toxicology report in the case of his 19-year-old client, Annica Phillips, who suffered a stroke and partial paralysis after taking a birth control pill manufactured by Bekmeyer, a pharmaceutical giant. Shortly after the judge announces that he can’t accept the report’s conclusion, Annica collapses and dies, the victim of a large blood clot. In the course of seeking justice for Annica, Deke suddenly finds himself on the wrong side of the law and discovers that he has far more enemies than he imagined, some of whom will go to any lengths to protect their secrets. Papantonio’s characters can be overly preachy, especially when discussing politics, but the legal maneuvering, courtroom drama, and brisk pace make this a satisfying tale of greed, corruption, lust, and murder."
Publishers Weekly
“Probably the best compliment I can give this book is that I’m now hooked. I know (or I hope) that Deke is not done—that we have not heard the last from him. I’m waiting for the next one, to see what facet of the American legal system Deke will take on, and how he’ll do it. Time to move over, Grisham.”
—Mark M. O’Mara
O’Mara Law Group
American criminal defense lawyer and legal analyst for CNN
"A masterpiece…this gripping story of greed, guts, corruption and the underbelly of the criminal justice system in our country is not only a page-turner, it is also a must-read for anyone who cares about human rights and truth."
—Kerry Kennedy, human rights activist and writer
From the Inside Flap
In the tradition of John Grisham, from radio talk show host and "America's lawyer" Mike Papantonio, comes Law and Disorder, a highly suspenseful legal thriller in which a Florida attorney finds the system working against him.
Brash, brilliant, handsome Nicholas Deketomis has built a highly successful career as a lawyer protecting the rights of the innocent while winning multibillion dollar lawsuits from the powers that be. “Deke” may have come from the wrong side of the tracks but he's built a wonderful life for his close-knit family. His wife, Terry, and two children live in a beautiful house in a seaside community along the Florida Panhandle.
But their comfortable life is endangered. In the midst of a highly contentious multimillion dollar lawsuit against the pharmaceutical company, as well as publicly advocating for a liberal Florida State Senate candidate, this time Deke may have riled the wrong powerbrokers. Scheming against him are a local Bible-thumping preacher, an ambitious district attorney, and two malicious brothers running one of the country's biggest oil corporations. A vile conspiracy is hatched to bring down Deketomis: Setting him up and attempting to convict him on a bogus murder charge would solve many of their problems.
Nick's in the trial of his life, which quickly becomes a media circus. But this good man will not go down without a bruising fight—especially when he finds his family threatened. And just as it seems that his enemies may have him cornered, he finds help from the unlikeliest source.
From the Back Cover
A New Kind of Hero for a New Kind of Thriller!
Nick “Deke” Deketomis shares more than a few qualities with his creator, Mike Papantonio. He’s a tough-minded trial lawyer with a history of making large corporations pay for their bullying tactics. As one of the few powerful liberal voices in his community of Spanish Trace in Florida’s Panhandle, he is not afraid to speak his mind—especially when it comes to “wing nut” conservatives and their corrupt allies.
But when Nick prepares to butt heads with the owners of S.I. Oil, the tyrannical, corrupt, multibillionaire Swanson brothers, he faces one of the riskiest trials of his career. Suddenly his nasty habit of rubbing powerful people wrong way catches up with him.
Mike Papantonio is a rising star in thrillers, delivering exciting fiction with a smart political insight. Along with co-hosts Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and Sam Seder, Papantonio’s nationally syndicated radio show Ring of Fire and its expanding multimedia network delivers the latest progressive news, commentary, and analysis to millions of listeners and viewers.
About the Author
Mike Papantonio is a senior partner of Levin Papantonio, one of the largest plaintiffs’ law firms in America, that has handled thousands of cases throughout the nation involving pharmaceutical drug litigation, Florida tobacco litigation, litigation for asbestos-related health damage, securities fraud actions, and other mass tort cases. "Pap" has received dozens of multimillion dollar verdicts on behalf of victims of corporate corruption.
Mr. Papantonio is one of the youngest attorneys to have been inducted into the Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame. In 2012 Mr. Papantonio became President of the National Trial Lawyers Association, one of the largest trial lawyer organizations in America. For his trial work on behalf of consumers Papantonio has received some of the most prestigious awards reserved by the Public Justice Foundation, The American Association for Justice, and the National Trial Lawyers Association.
Mr. Papantonio is an author of four motivational books for lawyers. He is also co-author ofAir America: The Playbook a New York Times Political Best Seller.
Mr. Papantonio is the host of the nationally syndicated radio show Ring of Fire along with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and Sam Seder. In addition to the radio program, Mr. Papantonio also hosts Ring of Fire when it airs on the Free Speech TV network. Mr. Papantonio has conducted hundreds of recorded interviews with guests, including Dan Rather, Helen Thomas, Howard Zinn, Arianna Huffington, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Bernie Sanders, David Crosby, Merle Haggard, Morgan Spurlock, John Edwards, Bill Moyers, Rickie Lee Jones, Alanis Morissette, Pete Seeger, Jackson Browne, Chuck D from Public Enemy, Henry Rollins, Ted Sorensen, and Elizabeth Kucinich. His role on Ring of Fire is featured in the movie, Jesus Camp, which was nominated for the 2007 Academy Award for Documentary Feature.
Mr. Papantonio is also a political commentator who frequently appears on MSNBC, Free Speech TV, RT America Network, and Fox News.
