U.S. FIRMS HIT WITH $1.4T SLAVERY' SUITS

New York Post ^ | 3/27/02 | DENISE BUFFA

[kattracks]

Landmark lawsuit.

March 27, 2002 -- African-Americans filed three landmark class-action lawsuits yesterday, demanding corporate America pay an estimated $1.4 trillion in damages for engaging in the slave trade generations ago.

The identical suits, filed in Brooklyn federal court, maintain Aetna Inc., FleetBoston Financial Corp., and CSX Corp. built empires on the backs of slaves - and must now give their heirs past wages and profits gained as a result of the free labor.

[wildehunt]

Does this mean the Irish get to sue the Brits for the
damage done during the Cromwellian Plantations of Ulster??

[tm22721]

This issue will stir up 10 times the racial hatred caused by OJ's trial and could very well lead to Civil War the Sequel.

BUMP

[Moonmad27]

I'm just glad they're not suing people whose ancestors owned slaves. Seriously, let's hope a judge throws this out of court, but I'm afraid any judge would never do that -either one who's politically correct, or one who's afraid of a reaction from the reparation community.

[VA Advogado]

The plaintiffs of each and every reparations lawsuit should be slapped with a "frivolous lawsuit" fine.

For some reason the liberals never get these sanctions awarded against them.

[peteram]

Offer that deal and see what happens

We would ultimately pay anyway - in the form of higher costs for goods and services that the corporations being sued will have to charge to make up the shortfall. So, whether taxpayer funded or consumer funded - either way, we still pay. (Its the trickle-down theory)

[Wyatt's Torch]

I think ytou somewhat missed my point. First, offering a one time payment, in exchange for the elimination of perpetual government programs, may actually be cheaper (I haven't done the analysis but it is likely that the Net Present Value of the set-aside programs is higher than the one-time payment). Second - regardless of the answer to the first, if it is contingent upon those receiving payment giving up any future claims based on "racism" or "bigotry" or whatever, they'll never take it. That deal would, in effect, say, "it's over." You think Jesse and Al will accept it? Heck no. That is their only job.

[unixfox]

"This is money that they should not be able to keep. By keeping it, it just continues the cycle of unjust enrichment," she said.

Kinda like the U.S. government? Take from the worker bees and give to the lazy, ungrateful, sorry S.O.B.'s?

I think I deserve reperations from an out of control wasteful spending government !!

[rmvh]

The plaintiffs of each and every reparations lawsuit should be slapped with a "frivolous lawsuit" fine.

No,No!!

These African-Americans plaintiffs should consult with their African-African brothers and sisters and determine if there is more money to be made by reinstituting slavery here in the U.S. just like their African-African brothers and sisters practice today by enslaving other African-Africans.

Also, it is a fact that freed African- Americans (prior to Emancipation here in the U.S.) also owned other African-American slaves. How are the African-American plaintiffs preparing to treat the decendents of African-American owners of other African-Americans???? This will present a problem for the African-American plaintiffs of manifest descrimination, allowing the African-American decendants of slave owners to get off scott free. as

Oh, hell...Have a nice day!

[peteram]

Second - regardless of the answer to the first, if it is contingent upon those receiving payment giving up any future claims based on "racism" or "bigotry"......

Claims to further reparations, or claims to government programs (entitlements)?

[tcostell]

I think it's in all our interests to start getting organized to boycott any company that settles out of court. If ever there were an issue which requires a little more than corporate pragmatism this is it, and we should try to make it in the companies interest to not knuckle under to more extortion.

[Dukie]

Michael Savage suggests using the tactics of Jesse Jackson by changing the terminology when this topic comes up. Whenever one of these "plaintiffs" uses the word "reparation", immediately reply: "Oh, you mean 'rape- a-nation' ? "

[Wyatt's Torch]

Claims to further reparations, or claims to government programs (entitlements)?

Yes. Assuming that the "government programs" are those that are tied to "righting past wrongs" like all affirmative action programs. Social Security, Medicare, TANF, etc. don't necessarily apply as all citizens receive these services.

[Vermont Lt]

I just got done doing my taxes. Two income household, good paying jobs....

We just paid the government more than the median income in most states in taxes: Fed Tax, State Tax, FICA, etc. I am clearly paying for another family to live, go to school, and get good health care. I would just like to meet them so that I can spend a few more hours a day and edju-ma-cate them so that they can get a job (good or not)and get off my back.

Who is is the slave?

[Wyatt's Torch]

Better think about that a second. Corporations have a fiduciary responsbility to their shareholders. If it can be shown that settling would cost less than legal and preparation fees, on a net present value basis, then it is the right thing to do for the shareholders.

[AppyPappy]

Two words: Judge Shopping.

[texson66]

Good Morning Kattracks!

This is plainly outrageous! First, is Deadria Farmer-Paellmann sure she is a descendant of slaves? What proof and/or documentation does she have? Black does not mean she is descended from slaves. Her class action suit would mean that each person as part of the suit would also have to provide such documents establishing that they too are descendants of slaves

Secondly, the companies being sued were conducting perfectly legal business up to 1863. After the Civil War, they certainly didn't deal in "profiting from slavery" .

Thirdly, if Farmer-Paellmann really wants to go to the roots (no pun intended) of the problem, she should be sueing the muslim religion, the Arab states, and various African nations since THEY are the original source of slavery. Even today slavery still exists in Africa of all places and thanks to the muslims there!

I'm sure that Brother Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton will be trying to get in on the action too.

I hope and pray the Judge who hears this case will throw it out of the court!

[peteram]

Ok, yeah. I agree that that contingent would definately stop them in their tracks. They wouldn't want to give those up. And this makes the lawsuit moot.

[Icthus]

How long will it be before Hillary joins this crusade?

[tcostell]

Corporations have a fiduciary responsbility to their shareholders
... You're absolutely right of course. I was more thinking about the cost of public relations and negative publicity. If corporations knew that they would have additional public relations exposure, that too would need to be figured into the cost of a settlement making it less attractive. That's the whole idea behind consumer action.

[San Jacinto]

Statute of Limitations

Any suit for personal injury must be brought within two years one hundred fifty years after the cause of action has accrued.

They just want a slight modification, that's all.