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     YOUR RIGHT TO SUE

1/5/2005

Look for a big push by Bush this year to restrict your right to sue 
corporations that harm or cheat you.

George claims that you unruly citizens are treating big corporations 
unfairly, constantly filing "frivolous lawsuits" against them. So, to 
protect the poor corporations, Bush says he must limit your access to 
America's courts.

But here's a dirty little secret that Bush doesn't mention: By far the 
biggest filer of frivolous lawsuits are not We the People––but 
corporations! The consumer group, Public Citizen, has done a survey of 
cases in Arkansas, Mississippi, Chicago and Philadelphia––four places 
alleged to be hotbeds of what Bush and his corporate backers like to 
call "lawsuit abuse" by us little folks.

The cases reveal that, contrary to the propaganda, American businesses 
file about four times as many lawsuits as do individuals––even though 
there are 40 times more individuals in America than businesses. Also, 
the survey finds that corporations and their legal beagles file 
frivolous lawsuits 69 percent more often than individuals do.

Big companies keep a bevy of attorneys on staff or on retainer, and they 
routinely unleash them on their customers, competitors, suppliers, 
workers, and anyone else standing between them and another dollar bill. 
Regular folks, however, count on a system of trial lawyers to help us 
when we've been wronged. These lawyers pay for all of the up front costs 
of us going to trial, and they only get paid if we win. This democratic, 
entrepreneurial system gives poor and middle-class families access to 
the judicial system––not just the rich.

It's this access that Bush & Company want to take away. Yet, the 
corporations pushing Bush's hokey "reform"––the very corporations that 
are so quick to run to the courthouse with frivolous suits––are 
demanding that they be exempted from the law to shut off access to the 
system.

To get Public Citizen's report and fight for your rights call 202-454-5104.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Businesses file 4 times more lawsuits than citizens." Public Citizen 
press release, October 4, 2004.

                
        

                        
<http://www.junction-city.com>    

Jim Hightower
Hightower & Associates
1802 W. 6th Street
Austin, TX 78703
512-477-5588
info AT jimhightower.com <mailto:info AT jimhightower.com>

        


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