Robert Neeld
Democrat for Congress
The Issues
Since April of this year, I have tried to bring civility and
thoughtfulness to the debate regarding our legal rights on matters
involving personal injury through professional malpractice or
through product liability.
I suggested that Alternative Dispute Resolutions (ADRs) might
be a reasonable way for aggrieved parties to seek a fair and just
remedy, and many people who I have met during the campaign have
complemented me on the merits of this approach regarding the issue
of Tort Reform.
Subsequently, I have received word that certain medical associations,
including some here in Florida, are contributing to a massive
media campaign for the specific purpose of influencing public
opinion -- and the upcoming election – on the issue of Tort
Reform. A core element of this campaign recommends that state
and federal laws be changed to drastically limit an injured party’s
access to the courts. Furthermore, and most onerously, the campaign
contains “testimonials” from medical practitioners
who are threatening to abandon or drastically curtail their practices
if their version of Tort Reform fails. This threat would hurt
people who depend on their doctors for critical care.
On its face, this veiled threat constitutes an unprecedented
breach of professional ethics and reeks of childish irresponsibility.
I will not remain silent when people who need medical care are
blackmailed by specials interests on this very important matter.
As a result of heavy-handed tactics by special interests that
jeopardize the public, from this day forward and until parties
can agree on a sensible solution to Tort Reform, I support an
individual’s Constitutional right to a trial by a jury when
personal injury is caused by a professional practitioner or by
product defect.
For more than 200 years, our system of law has provided a forum
in court where people can seek justice to correct the wrongs to
which they were subjected. The jury system works for all of us
and we should not be bullied or otherwise blackmailed by special
interests into making changes.”
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