Do you remember way back in February of 2004 when Hank Greenberg (then the Chairman of AIG) said that trial lawyers were terrorists?  Well, now Greenberg has hired those same “terrorists” to help him get his fortune back.

NEW YORK (AP) — The former chief executive officer of American International Group Inc. on Monday sued the company he led for 38 years, saying AIG misled investors about its exposure to subprime mortgages.
Maurice "Hank" Greenberg, 83, claimed in papers filed in federal court in Manhattan Monday that the company, once the world's largest insurer, has ruined his fortune by lying about its financial health.

The lawsuit says Greenberg, who served as AIG CEO from 1967 until he retired in March 2005, was the New York-based company's largest non-institutional shareholder.

Christina Pretto, a company spokeswoman, said: "We believe the suit is without merit and we will defend ourselves vigorously."

Source: Former AIG CEO sues the company in NY, saying AIG took his fortune through deceit — Newsday.com

Greenberg’s change of attitude shows us:

1. Trial lawyers are evil, until you need one.
2. Lawsuits against companies are bad, unless you’re the plaintiff.
3. Hank Greenberg has no shame whatsoever.

The guy was Chairman of the company until Spring of 2005, and now he’s claiming he had no idea about how much exposure AIG had to subprime mortgages.  Last I checked, he was Chairman during the worst part of the subprime bubble.  Maybe Hank should sue himself for not doing a better job running the company.

Or is the guy gonna claim that for the 38 years he ran the company, it did nothing wrong, and as soon as he left, all the shenanigans happened?  Hank, much if not most of AIG’s trouble started on your watch.  Thanks to 38 years of your incompetent leadership, Hank, taxpayers have already given AIG $170 billion dollars.  I think taxpayers ought to have subrogation rights and get repaid out of anything you recover.

Boo Hoo, Hank.  Here’s hoping you end up working as a greeter at Wal-Mart.