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.