As you know from our What is Tort Reform blog post, tort reform is an attempt to limit an individual’s right to seek financial compensation for wrongs done to them by another individual or organization. Those on the side of tort reform are attempting to change or limit how tort law was meant to work when it was provided for in both the United States Constitution and in every state constitution.
Tort law is fundamental to our legal system. In fact, it dates back hundreds of years, even before our history as a nation. It was part of England’s Common Law and was a way for those who harmed another to be held responsible for their actions.
Then, as now, the idea wasn’t about revenge, as in “I’ll get you back for running over my toe with your wagon!” It was about making certain that if someone was injured due to negligence by another, and had to pay a doctor or could no longer work, that person wouldn’t have to sell a child into servitude or go into bankruptcy because they couldn’t pay their debts…on top of the pain and loss they had already suffered. If someone causes harm, they should do what a group of their peers thinks is necessary to repair the wrong as much as possible.
Our country’s founding fathers recognized tort law to be a fair and essential part of the government and legal system they were building, and they made certain it was provided for by writing it into the Constitution.
Corporate greed (such as you will find in the asbestos industry) has crossed every line to protect their interests, and even the United States Constitution isn’t safe. Proponents of tort reform want to limit the rights provided to you by our founding fathers so they can get richer.
Don’t give up your fundamental and constitutional right to seek compensation! Join our mesothelioma attorneys in the fight against tort reform. Write your representatives, send out emails to everyone you know, and contact organizations against tort reform to see what you can do to help.
Tags: defense tactics, tort reform
