Myth Busting

Linda Lipsen to discus the web of tort reform

AAJ CEO Linda Lipsen will be a guest on the Ring of Fire radio show with Mike Papantonio this weekend as part of a show entitled, “The Web of Tort Reform.” Be sure to listen in on Saturday, January 12th, from 3-6 PM EST. Ms. Lipsen will address our new online campaign, takejusticeback.com, and talks about how corporations strategically work to undermine your legal rights by limiting access to the civil justice system.

AAJ Launches New Campaign to Fight Corporate Efforts to Limit Justice

AAJ has launched an online, grassroots campaign called “Take Justice Back.”  The campaign hit the ground running with an interactive website that educates Americans about the importance of the civil justice system, motivates the public through real stories of people denied justice, engages consumers through social media, and empowers activism.

Be sure to check it out, and let us know what your favorite feature is.
 
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Top 10 Ways the U.S. Chamber Hurts Americans

Larry Bodine: Exposing the Lie of Tort Reform

Today we have a guest post from the Editor in Chief of Lawyers.com, Larry Bodine. This post was originally published on The Huffington Post and can be found here on Lawyers.com.

Exposing the Lie of Tort Reform

By Larry Bodine
 

When Naython Watts turns six on Nov. 1, he won't realize that it's his birthday. He suffered disabling brain injuries because of botched medical care by not one -- but two doctors -- just before he was born. As a result his mother, who is a widow, will have to care for him during his 50-year life expectancy.

CNN Op-Ed: Protect Patients' Rights, Protect Patients' Lives

CNN ran an op-ed online this morning by American Association for Justice (AAJ) President Mary Alice McLarty on medical errors and patient safety. In the piece she challenges the talking points used by people trying to limit patients’ rights and highlights the importance of the civil justice system:

VIDEO: The Real Faces Behind Blitz's Exploding Gas Cans

The New York Times missed the mark with its story about Blitz USA published online today.  The article provides very little context or actual facts about the real safety problems with Blitz’s exploding gas cans.  The truth is this is a terrible case of a corporation putting profits over people. 
 
When Blitz produced metal gas cans, they contained simple flame arrestors.  These arrestors stop flames from entering the gas cans, preventing them from exploding.  But Blitz saved money by not installing any of these devices on their popular plastic cans, even though flame arrestors cost just a few cents to produce.  Children have died and employees have lost their jobs as result of this corporate greed and mismanagement.
 
For a more complete story behind Blitz be sure to check out the video below.  It gives the full account behind the injuries Blitz’s exploding gas cans have caused. 
 

 

A 50-Cent Fix that Could Have Saved Lives

Those who attack the civil justice system in the name of so-called “tort reform” frequently don’t bother with facts.

That has been proven again by the Wall Street Journal in an editorial on gas can litigation. Had the Journal’s editorial writers done a little bit of homework before making their argument that a manufacturer of gas cans was being picked on by lawyers, they would have learned about the 50-cent fix that could have saved thousands from serious burns and death.

NYT: ALEC is a fraud on taxpayers

Today the New York Times calls out the shadowy corporate front group known as the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) on its tax-exempt status as a nonpartisan charity despite ALEC’s clear pro-corporate, anti-consumer mission.

Texas Health Care Ranked Last By Federal Study

Texas is continually touted as the poster child of how to lower health care cost: enact laws that limit patients’ rights to hold negligent care providers accountable.  Study after study continues to show not only have costs not declined, but the quality of health care in Texas was ranked the lowest in the country by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).