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Latest U.S. Chamber Propaganda Seeks to Eliminate Corporate Accountability

(Monday, March 27, 2006 -Washington DC)—In response to new propaganda from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Ken Suggs, President of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA), today issued the following statement:

"The Chamber, in its never-ending campaign to deceive the American public, has issued yet another bogus survey, releasing its meaningless results with all the solemnity of a crooked undertaker. And they don’t even have the good sense to be embarrassed about it.

"The Chamber’s “survey” is merely a poll of corporate counsel. Asking lawyers representing the wealthiest corporations in the world how they feel about a civil justice system that protects the rights of even the weakest among us is like asking bank robbers how they like the criminal justice system. Companies out for power and profit sure don’t want any checks or balances.

"The Chamber’s constant harping about the civil justice system only goes to show it has no respect for a Constitution of the United States that guarantees the right of individuals to hold even the most powerful wrongdoers accountable or for the men and women who serve on juries. Tom Donohue and his henchmen should be ashamed.

"Even the guy who conducted the survey admits that ranking the various civil justice systems is an impossible task. And is anyone surprised to find states that afford consumers the most legal protections are the lowest ranking? Those living in states with civil justice systems ranked highly by the Chamber should be concerned – what’s good for the corporate interests likely is bad for the consumer. The entire exercise is absurd.

"The survey makes one thing very clear: The drug and oil industries, big insurance companies and other large corporations will do and say anything to continue lining their pockets with the money of people they abuse, both intentionally and unintentionally."

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As the world's largest trial bar, ATLA promotes justice and fairness for injured persons, defends the constitutional right to trial by jury, and strengthens the civil justice system through education and disclosure of information critical to public health and safety. With 60,000 members worldwide, ATLA provides lawyers with the information and professional assistance they need to serve clients successfully and protect the democratic values of the civil justice system.