Posted on 07/19/2006 7:52:01 PM PDT by calcowgirl
A Beverly Hills lawyer who represents injured workers before the state has told doctors that he and his colleagues will not refer clients their way unless they contribute at least $2,500 each to defeat Gov. Schwarzengger. The group representing the attorneys who specialize in workers compensation insurance cases immediately disavowed the lawyer's comments.
Attorney Lawrence Stern, in a June 26 email, said that "we at CAAA (California Applicants Attorneys Association) have taken a pact not to support any (doctor) who has not contributed at least $2,500 to the elections…" The mail was sent to Marlena Garland, who markets the services of the doctors, known as agreed medical examiners, or AMEs, in the workers compensation insurance system. Copies of the email also were sent to ranking CAAA members, including former CAAA President David Schwartz and current President David Rockwell.
Stern, a member of the CAAA committee that specializes in industrial relations, urged AMEs "along with us to stand shoulder to shoulder and to reach into their pockets, if necessary sell their Mercedes or not buy a new one for another year and help us get rid of Arnold (Schwarzenegger)." Stern noted that the AMEs have benefited from client referrals, and "it is time they started paying something back."
Garland forwarded the email to AMEs. "I have received this email from a very influential applicant attorney. I feel it is my job to send this to you and encourage you to contribute to the Angelides campaign," Garland wrote, according to a copy of the emails provided to Capitol Weekly .
(Excerpt) Read more at capitolweekly.net ...
In most states, I believe this is a crime. You cannot promise to do anything of value in return for a political donation, nor can you promise to withold anything of value if a donation is not given.
D'ya think the participants will be disbarred?
That's the minimum of what should happen to them.
Some know no shame.
I hope they lose their licenses (or, at least Stern).
Oh, the pain! The sacrifice! These poor, bedraggled souls!
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