I just received a very interesting e-mail. I wanted to pass it along, and hope it doesn't prove to be redundant. This came from a CAOC attorney and is a great primer on what is happening and how to fight these slime peddlers. Time for action. (With Apologies to Mr. Zevon for the title)
>>
Drugs,Lawyers and Money:
>>>
Exposing the Affordable and Safe Drugs and Attorney Fee
>>>Cap Initiatives
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>We are all aware Californians pay 70% more for prescription drugs
>>>and drug companies knowingly sell dangerous drugs.Whereas, other
>>>countries use their buying power to negotiate discounts, which
>>>California does for a select few. Not all of us get a price break.
>>>Not good.
>>>
>>>
More below the fold
>>>
>>>So, on January 25, 2005 the "Affordable and Safe Prescription
>>>Drugs For All Californians Act" initiative was filed, in hopes of
>>>qualifying for the November ballot. (Hereinafter, The Drug Act).
>>>Suspecting the California Consumer lawyers had a hand in
>>>the attempt to reduce costs and make safer drugs, PhRMA, a
>>>national trade association for the drug industry filed a counter
>>>initiative which would cap contingency fees to 20% for all
>>>California consumer attorneys. It was filed merely two weeks
>>>after the Drug Act was filed.
>>>
ts reasoned that such a counter initiative move by PhRMA will
>>>spell defeat for the Drug Act because consumer attorneys will have
>>>to choose-safe and affordable drugs or their livelihoods and
>>>clients access to the courts when wronged. It's the ole' divide
>>>and conquer strategy. However the big corporations failed to
>>>factor in the publics vote, thereby underestimating us all. I
>>>guess they figured they have the election in the bag.
o, the scene is set on the West coast this November.
>>>
>>>Now, why are these big drug companies ( you know the guys that
>>>brought us Vioax and Bextra etc. that's destroying the hearts of
>>>innocent Americans like my neighbor who bought Bextra for
>>>arthritis pain relief after 30 years of working with his hand as a
>>>mechanic in a car dealership) so worried about the Drug Act?
>>>Money, the big mean green. See, the Drug Act stops drug companies
>>>from the following:
>>>
>>>1) Price gouging.
>>>
>>>2) Charging expensive dispensing fees.
>>>
>>>3) Demanding excessive prices.
>>>
>>>4) Discriminating in the sale or distribution in retaliation of
>>>following the Act.
>>>
>>>5) Unfair or deceptive acts or practices, including gifts of more
>>>than $10 dollars to doctors.
>>>
>>>6)Manufactures must post on their web sites health risks and
>>>clinical results of the drugs they
>>>peddle.
>>>
>>>Get the picture, divide and conquer or give up billions of profits
>>>and be held accountable. Corporate accountability, like Enron, Big
>>>Energy and Oil...what a dilemma.
>>>
>>>Desperate, now imagine how the big drug companies are going to try
>>>to fool the voting public in the media? ( I hear they have a 20
>>>million dollar war chest). Let me show you what's on the horizon.
>>> The corporate drug co executives and political consultants will
>>>sit in their skyscraper boardrooms over looking American cities
>>>and buy up T.V. air time and voter slate mailers in order to
>>>merchandise their assets....high priced and unsafe drugs and tort
>>>reform.
>>>
>>>The drug companies will play on your sympathy heart strings better
>>>than any trial lawyer ever could, because they have think tanks,
>>>professional marketers and least we forget; a $20 million dollar
>>>war chest.
>>>
>>>They will parade selective minority actors in wheel chairs onto
>>>trv complaining their lawyer got more than them..ignoring the vast
>>>majority of Californians who were well served by their attorneys.
>>>
>>>This will all be in an attempt to close the courthouse doors to
>>>your average American and families who need a
>>>trial lawyer (paid only if you win) in a time of crisis; whereas
>>>the 20% cap initiative fails to provide for a reduction in
>>>corporate defense attorneys fees.That's a pretty good deal, the
>>>big guys don't have to play by the same rules inside or outside
>>>the courthouse unless the voters revolt and hold the corporate
>>>giants accountable.
>>>
>>>The last trick they will pull is to dangle a carrot in front of
>>>you and promise the moon by telling you that insurance rates will
>>>also drop if they win. Right! As you all know, lawsuit court
>>>filings have been down for the last 10 years according to the
>>>California Judicial Council statistics....but insurance rates keep
>>>on truckin'....rising that is.
>>>
>>>So, here is what you can do:
>>>
>>>1) Vote for affordable and safe drugs.
>>>
>>>2) Vote against Capping attorneys fees.
>>>
>>>3) Tell you friends to write the newspaper editors.
>>>
>>>4) Use the web and e-mail to affordably fight back.
>>>
>>>
http://caag.state.ca.us/initiatives/activeindex.htm (you can read
>>>the initiatives yourself and decide).
>>>
>>>
>>>Remember, the high priced and unsafe drugs start in the corporate
>>>boardrooms, not the courtrooms.
>>>Laws and professional rules already
>>>exist that govern attorney fees.
>>>You the public and juries of America are the great levelers, not
>>>the drug companies who are placing profits over people.