Will Senator Edwards Be on Trial’
In making his choice in a running mate earlier this month, Massachusetts Senator and Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry has gone for a man who is no stranger to the courtrooms.
North Carolina Senator John Edwards will join the Kerry ticket that hopes to unseat President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney this fall. As most folks know, especially those in the insurance industry, Edwards spent a number of years prior to coming to Washington, D.C. in courtrooms as a trial lawyer.
In an effort to get the trial lawyers’ side of things on medical malpractice and other issues impacting the insurance industry, Insurance Journal Southeast requested an interview with the Senator from the Tar Heel State several months back during the Democratic primaries. In what may not be a surprise to the world, Edward’s staff declined to go on the record.
The campaign may have had other interviews with other audiences they wanted to pursue. If that’s the case, I understand that.
If, on the other hand, the campaign didn’t want to have Edwards exposed to criticism from the insurance industry and its perceptions of lawyers for churning out incredible financial lawsuits, often against the doctors and companies that they insure, then I do take some issue with that.
During the primary, Edwards was known often to criticize President Bush, whom he charged with creating “two Americas”—one for the privileged, another for everyone else.
Edwards, through jury verdicts against corporations that he says wronged middle- and lower class Americans, has managed to become a multi-millionaire. There’s nothing wrong with a guy working hard for his money. Edwards, however, may have trouble connecting with the middle and lower class Americans who couldn’t begin to compare checking accounts with him. After conceding defeat to Kerry in the primary, Edwards asked the bulk of his contributors, mostly trial lawyers, to donate to his former rival’s campaign.
Whether it is in the debate or out on the campaign stump, med-mal and health insurance in general, will be an issue that Edwards will hopefully address. Also, just what does John Edwards think of your neighborhood trial lawyer and their pursuit of claims for their clients?
There are legitimate med-mal claims out there that need to be addressed in a court of law. There are also many trial lawyers who are piling up frequent flyer mileage chasing down every case they can get their hands on.
Maybe now the Senator from North Carolina will agree to address the issue of just how we find a happy medium to this issue. Get the legitimate claims in court and reign in the trial lawyers who are tying up the court system with outrageous lawsuits.
Speaking of issues, we hope you enjoy your latest issue, and we’ll talk to you soon.