Christian Schneider’s most recent piece in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel exposes the questionable legal action Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) is taking to seek remedy for her lung cancer – suing 70 companies that she believes contributed to her exposure to asbestos when she was a child while not mentioning she has been a smoker for 40 years. As Schneider explains, lawsuits like this threaten the solvency of trusts set up to compensate actual asbestos victims by firms that went bankrupt, while also placing a burden on solvent companies. Continue reading “More Transparency Needed in Asbestos Lawsuits”
Author: Hamilton
FACT Act Preserves Money for Future Asbestos Victims
In her article that appears in The Hill Blog, Lisa Rickard, President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform, discusses federal legislation that ensures future asbestos victims will be compensated.
According to the article, the federal Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency (FACT) Act (H.R. 982) would require various asbestos trusts to file quarterly reports with the bankruptcy courts detailing who has filed a claim and how much money was paid out. Continue reading “FACT Act Preserves Money for Future Asbestos Victims”
Fall 2013 President’s Report
At its fall meeting, the WCJC Board of Directors received and approved the Fall 2013 President’s Report. The report reviews WCJC’s successes to date and outlines WCJC’s goals for the future.
.
Legislature Mulls Change to Chief Justice Selection
The Wisconsin legislature is considering two proposals that would change the way the chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court is selected.
Assembly Joint Resolution 67 and Senate Joint Resolution 57 direct the justices on the high court to elect their chief justice for a two-year term. The proposal limits justices to three consecutive two-year terms. Continue reading “Legislature Mulls Change to Chief Justice Selection”
State Bar Supports Judicial Term Limit
The State Bar of Wisconsin is advocating for a change in how members of the Wisconsin Supreme Court are elected. While current law allows members of the high court to run for an unlimited number of 10 year terms, the governing board of the Bar recently decided it would prefer justices only serve one term of 16 years.
Abrahamson Delivers State of the Judiciary Address
Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson delivered the annual State of the Judiciary Address at the Wisconsin Judicial Conference on November 6. Her remarks, titled “Back to the Future,” focused on effort to improve the judiciary by applying cutting-edge innovation to evidence-based lessons learned in the past. Abrahamson focused specifically on judicial selection and recusal, touched on the financial challenges the courts face, and detailed new criminal and family initiatives. Continue reading “Abrahamson Delivers State of the Judiciary Address”
Wisconsin Businesses Support AB 19/SB 13, Personal Injury Trusts
The Wisconsin business community supports AB 19/SB 13, providing transparency in personal injury trusts. The Wisconsin Civil Justice Council respectfully requests that the Senate schedule and pass the bill.
This bill does NOT negatively affect veterans: To the contrary, by protecting limited funds available to trusts and the limited resources of solvent Wisconsin businesses, AB 19/SB 13 will help ensure that veterans and other legitimate victims receive fair compensation in the future. Continue reading “Wisconsin Businesses Support AB 19/SB 13, Personal Injury Trusts”
Wisconsin Civil Justice Council Receives Outstanding Organization Award
The Wisconsin Civil Justice Council has gained national recognition for its role in passing sweeping legal reforms in 2011 and its continued commitment to combating lawsuit abuse.
Members of WCJC and WMC traveled to the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform’s 14th Annual Legal Reform Summit in Washington, D.C. to accept the award. Continue reading “Wisconsin Civil Justice Council Receives Outstanding Organization Award”
Latest News from Wisconsin’s Courts
The Summer 2013 edition of The Third Branch, a quarterly publication of the Director of State Courts Office, is now available. The newsletter includes a court-centric perspective on the legislature’s fall floor period.
Wisconsin Reforms Draw National Attention
On Tuesday, Oct. 8, the Wisconsin Senate passed AB 27, Transparency in Private Attorney Contracting (TIPAC), on a bipartisan vote, 23-10 (five Democrats joined all 18 Republicans). The U.S. Chamber applauds AB 27 as “Nation’s Strongest Outside Counsel Sunshine Law,” while the American Tort Reform Association proclaimed to its national audience that the “New Law Will Help Make Wisconsin More Attractive to Employers.” Continue reading “Wisconsin Reforms Draw National Attention”