Lawrence J. McQuillan's claim that Pennsylvania needs to change its tort laws to bring back jobs ( "Tort Reform Would Create Jobs in Pennsylvania," July 8 Perspectives) is a shallow attempt to use a bad economy, perhaps the worst since the 1930s, to blow up our civil justice system.
The so-called study Mr. McQuillan cites has no methodology or basis for its results. He ignores statistics from our own Supreme Court that lawsuits filed as a result of medical malpractice are down dramatically, as are the award amounts. Procedural rule changes adopted by the court and the statutory changes enacted by the General Assembly have made a difference.
Mr. McQuillan and his Pacific Research Institute don't care about jobs. They are seeking to gain immunity for the corporations who fund them. They want to cap our Seventh Amendment rights and push other proposals to shift the responsibility of the harm caused by their paymasters to the taxpayer.
We need a strong civil justice system with full accountability to protect society from tainted food and other products from China, out-of-control Toyotas and corporate polluters. Who is going to protect us when the next oil spill occurs?
If Mr. McQuillan's socialized justice creates jobs, why are flocks of Texas oil workers now working in Pennsylvania, when Texas has adopted the exact restrictions his California-based think tank wants us to adopt?
Tort reform doesn't work. Jobs are created by a strong economy and a safe work force, not by taking away constitutional rights.
TIMOTHY CONBOY
President
Pennsylvania Association for Justice
Downtown
The writer is a partner in the law firm of Caroselli, Beachler, McTiernan & Conboy.
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