Our "YOU SHOULD KNOW" Newsletter- September 2014
In this issue…
Tort Reform” Threatens Our Constitutional Liberties
“In suits at common law, trial by jury in civil cases is as essential to secure the liberty of the people as any one of the pre-existent rights of nature.” – James Madison
Wednesday, Sept. 17 marks the national celebration of Constitution Day, a time to recall the liberties our Constitution sought to protect, preserve and uphold. These fundamental rights are the glue that holds our nation together. Yet, many Americans aren’t aware that the Seventh Amendment, which guarantees our right to a trial by jury in civil cases, is currently under attack. Advocates of “tort reform” are pushing for an overhaul of our civil justice system, which would change centuries-old common law and is in stark opposition to the vision of our Founding Fathers. Here are 10 conversations You Should Know to defend your rights. Click here to read more and the rest of this month’s You Should Newsletter.
Other Legal Issues We Discuss This Month
The Seventh Amendment Holds the Powerful Accountable- Attacks Posing as “Tort Reform” Limit Right to Trial by Jury (click here)
79% Drop! The most recent statistics available show that personal injury trials are not clogging up the nation’s district courts, dropping by 79 percent from 3,604 cases in 1985 to 800 cases in 2003. Source: Federal Tort Trials and Verdicts, 2002–2003, Bureau of Justice Statistics (click here)
51.7% In 2003, Texas imposed an historic $250,000 cap on damages for medical malpractice cases in part to rein in health care premiums. Yet, premiums for family health insurance in Texas rose 51.7 percent from 2003 to 2010. Source: A Failed Experiment (2011), Public Citizen (click here to read and for download)
75% More than 75 percent of contracts at 190 well-known companies force customers to accept one-sided arbitration clauses rather than allow complaints to go to court. But only 10 percent of the same companies agreed to arbitration clauses in their contracts with other companies. Source: Mandatory Arbitration for Customers But Not for Peers (2008): Judicature (click here to read and for download)
TortReformTruth.com says insurers, big tobacco and Fortune 500 companies benefit the most from “tort reform” because such measures insulate corporate profits from lawsuits while shell groups hide the truth from the American people. (click here)
Journalists Expose Campaign to Curtail Your Rights- Journalists at the Center for Media and Democracy discovered that global corporations and state politicians are working together on “model” legislation that curtails our rights while benefiting corporate interests. (click here)
National Celebrations Planned for Constitution Day Sept. 17- Join the National Archives in Washington, D.C., and the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia in celebrating Constitution Day on Wednesday, Sept. 17. Learn more about the U.S. Constitution through public programs, family activities and online resources. (click here)
Conservative Opposes “Tort Reform” Movement (podcast)- Andrew Cochran, editor of the 7th Amendment Advocate, calls “tort reform” the 30-year war on individual rights and urges conservative opposition. (click here)
What Do You Think? Were you aware that the Seventh Amendment is under attack? Share your thoughts and you could score a free iPod shuffle! And check out the results of last month’s Justice Served survey. (click here to participate and read)