Posted on 08/13/2002 12:16:47 AM PDT by farmfriend
Group Calls for Passage of the Class Action Fairness Act
Leaders from the agriculture sector, including California State Grange Master Leo Bergeron, went to Washington to call on Congress to pass class action lawsuit reform. With literally a “cash cow” in tow, representatives of America’s food chain, including hog farmers, tomato growers, food processors and a major grocery store chain, gathered on the Mall to ask the U.S. Senate to pass S. 1712, the Class Action Fairness Act.
‘There has been a dramatic increase in the number of frivolous class action lawsuits filed against high tech, insurance, health care, manufacturing and financial services companies in state courts over the last decade,” said Bryce Neidig, President of the Farm Bureau of Nebraska. “Those of us in the ag sector are concerned that we may be the next target of these abusive lawsuits. Agriculture is vital to our nation’s economy, and Congress must take steps to assure that we do not become the next cash cow for trial lawyers.”The bi-partisan Class Action Fairness Act passed the House in March and is currently pending in the Senate. The legislation makes it easier to move large, multi-state class action lawsuits from state to federal court, thereby curbing the practice of “venue shopping” by trial lawyers. The bill also contains a “Plaintiffs Bill of Rights” that includes:
“ Class action reform would restore fairness to our legal system, reduce litigation expenses, curtail excessive class action suits and protect consumers. The Senate should plow ahead on this important piece of legislation,” said Neidig.
While in Washington, the agriculture leaders distributed a letter to Senators’ offices signed by 394 agricultural organizations and companies asking for passage of the Class Action Fairness Act.
The ag group’s visit to Washington is hosted by the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform and the Food Marketing Institute. In addition to the press conference on the Mall, the group attended a briefing at the White House and met with members of the Senate.
Taking advantage of being in D.C., Bergeron also used this opportunity to address Grange policy on ESA reform with the Congressmen he visited.
In the Sunday paper, there was an article about a woman who was awarded $300k in a lawsuit. After some post-trial hearings, her lawyers were awarded $850k (these numbers are going from memory). Because the award was not for actual damages but punitive, the IRS says she owes taxes on what she received as well as the lawyer's take. This tax burden is more than her share of the award.
Trial lawyers and the IRS are BOTH screwed up.
Give up?
ALLEGATORS!!!
They are about to "swamp" rural residents!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.