Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84 exptools; site whuxl.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!whuxl!orb
From: orb@whuxl.UUCP (SEVENER)
Newsgroups: net.politics.theory
Subject: Re: Class Action Suits against Polluters
Message-ID: <655@whuxl.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 17-Jun-85 17:56:17 EDT
Article-I.D.: whuxl.655
Posted: Mon Jun 17 17:56:17 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 18-Jun-85 08:13:59 EDT
References: <408@mmintl.UUCP> <28200013@inmet.UUCP> <651@whuxl.UUCP> <232@kontron.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Whippany
Lines: 27

> From Clayton Cramer: 
> Many states have prohibited class action lawsuits in air and water
> pollution cases "to keep from clogging up the courts".  The only case
> I can find of someone trying to file a class action lawsuit against an
> air polluter is Diamond vs. General Motors, et. al. (1971), where the
> judge refused to hear the case because it was too "complicated".  A
> judiciary that has the time and energy to hear the AT&T and IBM anti-trust
> suits, certainly has the time and energy to hear class action lawsuits.
> What's lacking is a clear-cut legal right to file class action lawsuits.
> 
 
Well, Libertarians should be happy to hear that the New Jersey PIRG
(Public Interest Research Group) just successfully won a class-action
suit against water polluters in New Jersey.  The State had refused
to prosecute the offenders but the law allowed public interest groups
to file class action lawsuits and collect the damages.
 
I see nothing wrong with such class action lawsuits if they are
effective in stopping pollution.
 
Libertarians should also be happy at the landmark decision which held
employers liable for murder in a case of cyanide poisoning due to
industrial neglect.
 
As Libertarians rejoice, I will bet funding from companies and industrialists
will dry up in no time!
                                      tim sevener  whuxl!orb