Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Alpine), a member of the House Armed Services Committee comes out in an article in the Los Angeles Times in favor of the Feres Doctrine — a controversial rule that has effectively stripped military personnel of their ability to sue for even the most gross negligent acts by military doctors and managers. The article reports growing demands for the long-awaited termination of the doctrine.
Hunter calls the Feres Doctrine “a reasonable approach to ensuring that litigation does not interfere with the objectives and readiness of our nation’s military.” Yet, it is primarily designed to save the government money from having to pay for its own negligence — making military personnel a fraction of the cost of other citizens to hurt and kill.
As noted in prior columns, here and here and here, Feres has caused untold injury to our military personnel and their families. Yet, case of such negligence continue unabated in the absence of any legal deterrent. Click here and here.
For the full story, click here.
Pretty soon, if the Republicans get their way, the right to sue in negligence will be the exception to every rule.
Attorneys have turned torts into the New World Lottery in which they get rich and American commerce gets turned upside down.
dunder:
Spoken like a person who has read all the propaganda but never ventured into a courtroom or had any actionable claim. Or maybe one whose had many claims–against them. Every objective study says litigation costs are no drag on the economy, and moreover, that changes wrought from litigation have made American products safer and hence the world’s standard. To cross the “t” for you, that makes our products the most desired. Denying people’s rights may be sport to the neo-con crowd, but is still a crime against society in my book.
This is the same Duncan Hunter who presents himself as a flag-pin-wearing, invasion/occupation/Gitmo loving, supporter of the troops. Hunter is just like John McCain who similarly claims his allegience to our soldiers and even made a big show of opposing US torture because it could be justified against our own soldiers. Then McCain voted FOR the President’s Military Commisions Act which was signed, but with yet another Presidential “signing statement” voiding the torture provision without any objection from McCain. McCain voted AGAINST increased benefits to cover Iraq vets’ mental injuries and issues, AGAINST inclusion of benefits for disabled vets in the tax rebate scheme and is poised to vote AGAINST the new GI Bill going through Congress. I guess “supporting the troops” means wearing your flag pin and supporting the brass, not actually supporting the troops. Why do these Republicans hate our troops so much?
I’m unable to express myself properly today so I’m going for shorthand:
1. Predatory ambulance chasing is shameful
2. Predatory ambulance riding is shameful
3. Military and Veterans should not have extra rights
4. Military and Veterans should not have any less rights
5. We, the electorate are responsible for electing boobs like Hunter
6. We, the electorate are capable of replacing boobs like Hunter
Patty C 1, April 21, 2008 at 1:31 pm
http://www.saintspreserved.com/expeditus.htm
OK, since Passover has, y’know, passed over and we haven’t officially celebrated St. Expedite on the blog (April 19), I propose we all pledge our membership in The Procrastinators Club and team up with those De-motivators at Despair Inc. and declare our freedom from all LGAT’s ie Large Group Awareness Trainers and spend the rest of the day watching Speedy Gonzales cartoons on YouTube…
Google ‘Speedy Gonzales’ AND for fun add ‘Gonzales Tomales’
Excellent suggestion, however, I have to figure out how to put-off another 100 things on today’s list in order to join in. Maybe I could someone else to postpone my …
Patty C:
Arriba! Arriba! Andale! Andale!