AFJ Condemns Vote in House of Representatives that Tears a Hole in the Civil Justice System and Harms American Families

Washington, D.C., March 22, 2012—Alliance for Justice President Nan Aron issued the following statement regarding the passage today in the U.S. House of Representatives of H.R. 5, which would radically restrict Americans’ rights to seek justice in the courtroom:

The vote today in the House of Representatives in favor H.R. 5, the perversely named “Protecting Access to Healthcare Act,” is an affront to basic American standards of fairness and justice, and a declaration that the rights and lives of men, women, and children who have been injured or killed by medical malpractice and patient abuse are secondary to corporate profits.

This radical bill tears a hole in the civil justice system, erodes long-established rights afforded to victims of corporate abuse, and all but ensures that the quality of patient care will continue to decline. While this bill would protect the bottom line of medical corporations and practitioners, hundreds of thousands of American families will be financially devastated by an inability to achieve fair recompense for the life-altering damage done to them.

The Senate must stand firm on the side of fairness, our civil justice traditions, and suffering American families and stop this outrageous attempt to shield corporations and medical practitioners from accountability for their actions.

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Alliance for Justice is a national association of over 100 organizations, representing a broad array of groups committed to progressive values and the creation of an equitable, just, and free society. AFJ works to ensure that the federal judiciary advances core constitutional values, preserves human rights and unfettered access to the courts, and adheres to the even-handed administration of justice for all Americans. It is the leading expert on the legal framework for nonprofit advocacy efforts, providing definitive information, resources, and technical assistance that encourages organizations and their funding partners to fully exercise their right to be active participants in the democratic process. AFJ is based in Washington, D.C.