Copyright 2000 The New York Times Company
The New
York Times
View Related Topics
April 22, 2000, Saturday, Late Edition -
Final
SECTION: Section A; Page 12; Column
5; Editorial Desk
LENGTH: 137 words
HEADLINE: Inertia on Tort Reform
BODY:
To the Editor:
John Tierney ("In
Tort City, Falling Down Can Pay Off," Big City column, April 15) examines the
lawsuits that are so costly for New York City and so lucrative for
fortune-hunting plaintiffs and the tort bar.
Some states have limited
the liability of cities but "attempts at tort reform in Albany have been
successfully resisted by trial lawyers," he writes. "Besides being major
campaign contributors to legislators, especially Democratic ones, trial lawyers
occupy prominent positions in the Legislature." To appreciate the magnitude of
the problem, we must realize that President Clinton has received substantial
contributions from the tort bar and has refused to go along with needed tort
reforms.
HAROLD A. SEGALL
New York, April 19, 2000
The writer is a corporate lawyer. http://www.nytimes.com
LOAD-DATE: April 22, 2000 
