Posted on 07/28/2004 3:27:30 PM PDT by Dan from Michigan
Fieger says he will file complaint against four state Supreme Court justices
By BREE FOWLER
The Associated Press
7/28/2004, 4:52 p.m. ET
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (AP) — Saying that four Michigan Supreme Court justices are determined to take away the people's right to sue, attorney Geoffrey Fieger announced Wednesday his intent to file a complaint with the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission against the justices.
The complaint comes just days after a $21 million sexual harassment verdict Fieger won against DaimlerChrysler AG was overturned by the court.
During a news conference held at his law offices in Southfield, Fieger accused state Supreme Court justices Maura Corrigan, Clifford Taylor, Robert Young Jr. and Stephen Markman of putting the interests of big business and insurance companies ahead of those of working people. He also accused the four justices of having a personal vendetta against him.
"It's just gotten to be too much when we have a Supreme Court that's gutting the rights of women," Fieger said. "Something has to be done."
The justices declined to comment, especially without seeing the complaint, Supreme Court spokeswoman Marcia McBrien said.
"It is certainly not the first time and certainly won't be the last that a person who's unhappy with a case has filed a grievance against a judge," McBrien said.
Also at the news conference, state Rep. Paul Condino, D-Southfield, announced legislation that would change the state's Civil Rights Act to better protect women in the workplace.
The Michigan Supreme Court overturned a verdict won by Linda Gilbert against DaimlerChrysler — believed to be one of the country's largest awards to a single sexual harassment plaintiff — because the justices said it was excessive.
The four justices cited in Fieger's complaint voted to overturn the verdict and the subsequent appeals court decision affirming it, while the court's three other justices said it should stand.
Fieger also pointed to the court's 5-2 ruling in Haynie vs. Michigan, another sexual harassment case in which the four justices in question also voted to overturn an appeals court ruling. The justices said Michigan's civil rights act does not prohibit harassment that is gender based, but not sexual in nature.
Gilbert's case will be retried in Wayne County Circuit Court, hopefully some time in the next six months to a year, Fieger said.
Gilbert said her male co-workers at Chrysler's Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit called her cruel names and left sexually explicit cartoons and photos on and near her locker. The automaker said Gilbert didn't disclose a number of allegations until after she filed a lawsuit and the company did all it could with the knowledge it had.
Gilbert was unavailable for comment Wednesday, having been hospitalized earlier in the week for physical and psychological problems stemming from the years of harassment, Fieger said.
Once a person files a complaint against a judge, the Judicial Tenure Commission begins an investigation, which can take up to six months to complete, Executive Director Paul Fischer said.
If the commission determines the accusations are warranted, it then files a formal complaint.
The Michigan Supreme Court has the final say on whether to take action. In this case, it's unclear how the court would handle a formal complaint against four of its own members, Fischer said.
Fieger said he is seeking to have the four judges, three of which were appointed by former Republican Gov. John Engler, removed from his client's case, as well as any other cases dealing with sexual harassment, and replaced by appointed judges.
No attorney previously has been successful in having a Supreme Court justice removed from a case either at the state or the federal level, Fieger said.
When, oh when, will Mr. Fieger ask someone to assist at his suicide?
The Democrats nominated him in 1998 and he offended every one and Dick Engler won a third term. I don't think there is a soul in MI who likes him.
The slimiest of the slime.
It seems to me as though he's trying to affirm it.
Somebody ought to file a bar complaint against Fieger. In most states, it is a violation of the rules of ethics applicable to attorneys to engage in conduct that disrepects judges or the judiciary.
It is also a violation to file frivolous complaints. A counter complaint would seem apropriate.
It's funny to read his claims about big business on the one hand while complaining about their leaving the state and the high cost of insurance on the other. If Fieger has his way all we will have left here in Michigan will be former working people.
brought $8 million a year with me.
But please, keep doing what you are doing.
I need 12 more employees, and they are all coming out of MI.
(The real kicker was the cig tax. here in Va it is 2.5 cents per pack. So I moved my entire business.)
God, this is actually funny.
I'd ask Justices Markman(up for election this year and a very good man) and Young about Fieger if I saw them, but they are to classy to say anything besides a 'no comment'.
Exactly why we left Delaware. socialism - is horrible.
Unfortunately the cig tax in VA goes to 15 cents on Sunday and to 30cents on 1/1/05........
Need any telecommuter employees from over on the Eastern Shore?
Hey, it's not funny to laugh at others expense ;)
What part of Michigan did you leave? This is a beautiful state, particularly Lake Michigan, but soon this will not be enough to keep me.
I owned properties in Jackson, and on Bert lake.
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