|
 |
Lawyers' group targets Lincoln County senator
|
| By: Matthew Coleman |
October 09, 2002 |
|
|
A Lincoln County lawmaker is among a handful of state senators being taken to task by a lawyers group for supporting tort reform legislation.
|
Dist. 39 Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith was featured in a full-page ad that appeared in the Oct. 2 edition of the "Lawrence County Press" in Monticello. Her district includes Lawrence and Lincoln counties.
Using a case involving a child that suffered brain damage during delivery, the ad accuses the first-term senator of choosing "profits over people" by voting for a tort reform bill shortly after the Sept. 5 start of a legislative special session.
"Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith believes profits are more important than people. She ought to be ashamed of herself," the ad said.
Earlier this week, Hyde-Smith said she was preparing a response for the Lawrence County newspaper. She said a slight revision could be needed after Monday's passage of compromise medical malpractice tort reform legislation.
"My response is if they can't buy you, they buy ads against you," Hyde-Smith said.
The ad was paid for by Lawyers Involved in Mississippi's Betterment (LIMB), which is a political action committee for the Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association, said David Baria, association president.
Baria said newspaper ads citing senators' support of "anti-consumer legislation" were taken out in several other districts. He mentioned Sen. Terry Burton, of Newton; Sen. Videt Carmichael, of Meridian; and Greenville Sen. Neely Carlton, who was one of the Senate's conferees on the tort reform bill.
"We want the voters in their districts to realize what these senators are up to," Baria said.
Hyde-Smith said the ad was "pretty nasty" and called it an intimidation tactic.
"They're coming after the ones putting up the fight," Hyde-Smith said.
The medical malpractice bill put caps on non-economic awards for pain and suffering and addressed other medical-related issues.
The legislation was passed in response to doctors leaving the state or stopping their practice because of the inability to get malpractice insurance coverage at reasonable rates. Hyde-Smith said the legislation was important because of health care access concerns for citizens.
She said she had "no doubt" the advertisements would continue and would be a campaign issue next year.
"They will not forget this thing," Hyde-Smith said. "I fully expect more of it."
Hyde-Smith said the political shots were part of the job and that she understands the game of politics.
"You can't worry about that. You have to do what's right because it's right," Hyde-Smith said.
Baria said the association had nothing else planned, but that could change depending on activity during the expanded special session for lawmakers to deal with general civil justice tort reform. He said those who support anti-consumer legislation again can expect something again.
"Any senator can expect we're going to call them to the carpet if they vote for something that's as anti-consumer, as was pointed out in that ad," Baria said.
In addition to the medical case, the ad mentioned Hyde-Smith's support of a bill that would have limited penalties against banks and loan companies involved in fraudulent practices. The ad said the state's civil justice system would be there to protect citizens, "unless Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith gets her way."
Hyde-Smith was not deterred by the ad. She said she had received more support after its publication, and she told Baria that after Monday's vote on the medical tort reform bill.
"It makes me more determined than ever," Hyde-Smith said.
|
|
©The Daily Leader 2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Dezarie Fowler |
Oct, 10 2002 |
| |
I just think it is sad that our local newspaper, (I say our because I am a citizen of Lawrence County), has chosen to participate in such mud-slinging as was in the paper last week and this week, by both parties. Right or wrong, I was totally amazed to see that the editors chose to run any ad that deminishes the character of a persons character, whether public or private. My opinion is that it was a bad move by the editor(s) of "The Lawrence County Press" to run either ads. (Even though they were PAID ads). I thought we lived in a better place than this.
|
|
|
|
Bob Everett |
Oct, 10 2002 |
| |
Senator Hyde-Smith cast a wonderful vote for the future of Mississippi. Unfortunately the trial lawyers profess to be for the people with a slogan, "People before Profits". If they really believed that, they would lower their 40% fees. It's amazing that the trial lawyers actually testified that they would not sue a doctor without insurance because they could not recover any damages. Sounds like "Profit before People" should be the tune of the greedy trial lawyers determined to ruin everything good in our society to fill their overflowing pockets with even more. Shame on David Baria and his kind.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
