Thursday, May 17, 2007
We know the cost of non-peaceful dispute resolution.
A management consultant firm serving the insurance industry has labeled "misleading" the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's national cable ads' use of its study in claiming "lawsuit abuse is forcing your family to pay $3500 more each year for everyday goods and services".
Lead author Russ Sutter explained that his study, which looked at plaintiffs' tort recoveries, defense costs and administrative claim cost, never distinguished between legitimate and other claims. He concluded that the Chamber ad-makers are "misleading in how they characterize it." The study looked only at the so called costs, and made no distinction between viable, legitimate, worthy claims and not.
The benefit of our judicial system, and access to courts for legitimate wrongs causing harm to individuals and business, far outweigh the Chamber's flawed claim of $261 billion, or $880/person. (The Chamber also miscalculated "average household" to be approximately 4 people. Average household is 2.6, and average family household is 3.18).
Our system, including trial by jury and right of appeal, providing employment to many great civil servants, allows the peaceful resolution of disputes. The system saves lives and money. It is the solid backup and makes possible the systems of arbitration and mediation which are called "alternate dispute resolution". It is used by businesses for massive corporate disputes and by individuals who have been wronged. The tort system is responsible, for example, for saving lives and reducing injuries in product safety. No one disputes that cars now are better able to withstand crashes because of the accountability in the system.
The current pattern of threatening our judicial system, our judges, and lawyers represents a threat to all who believe in democracy and three branches of government.
We know the cost of non-peaceful dispute resolution. A country which cannot peacefully resolve its disputes will descend into chaos, unable to protect its borders or provide for the needs of its citizens. These conditions are the Bush Administration criteria for terrorism seeding and growth. After 500 billion U.S. dollars, it is the system we've created in Iraq.
Consider the Chamber ad-makers and promoters who misrepresent the cost of "lawsuit abuse" as anarchists, intent on destroying the American civil justice system so they can run amok, with no accountability.
BAR
Source: FactCheck.org 5-11-07
Barbara Ann Radnofsky
email: katie.floyd@radnofsky.com
phone: 713-858-9391
web: http://www.radnofsky.com
Lead author Russ Sutter explained that his study, which looked at plaintiffs' tort recoveries, defense costs and administrative claim cost, never distinguished between legitimate and other claims. He concluded that the Chamber ad-makers are "misleading in how they characterize it." The study looked only at the so called costs, and made no distinction between viable, legitimate, worthy claims and not.
The benefit of our judicial system, and access to courts for legitimate wrongs causing harm to individuals and business, far outweigh the Chamber's flawed claim of $261 billion, or $880/person. (The Chamber also miscalculated "average household" to be approximately 4 people. Average household is 2.6, and average family household is 3.18).
Our system, including trial by jury and right of appeal, providing employment to many great civil servants, allows the peaceful resolution of disputes. The system saves lives and money. It is the solid backup and makes possible the systems of arbitration and mediation which are called "alternate dispute resolution". It is used by businesses for massive corporate disputes and by individuals who have been wronged. The tort system is responsible, for example, for saving lives and reducing injuries in product safety. No one disputes that cars now are better able to withstand crashes because of the accountability in the system.
The current pattern of threatening our judicial system, our judges, and lawyers represents a threat to all who believe in democracy and three branches of government.
We know the cost of non-peaceful dispute resolution. A country which cannot peacefully resolve its disputes will descend into chaos, unable to protect its borders or provide for the needs of its citizens. These conditions are the Bush Administration criteria for terrorism seeding and growth. After 500 billion U.S. dollars, it is the system we've created in Iraq.
Consider the Chamber ad-makers and promoters who misrepresent the cost of "lawsuit abuse" as anarchists, intent on destroying the American civil justice system so they can run amok, with no accountability.
BAR
Source: FactCheck.org 5-11-07
Barbara Ann Radnofsky
email: katie.floyd@radnofsky.com
phone: 713-858-9391
web: http://www.radnofsky.com
Labels: Corpus Christi, Insurance, Law, Mark Carol Scott, Texas
