IVINS (CONT)

-- In Baltimore, members of a community group faced a $252 million lawsuit after circulating a letter questioning the property-buying practices of a local housing developer

-- In West Virginia, an environmental activist was sued for $200,000 for criticizing a coal-mining company for activities that were poisoning a local river.

-- In Pennsylvania, a farmer was sued after testifying to his township supervisors that a low-flying helicopter owned by a local landfill operator caused a stampede that killed several of his cows.

-- In Washington state, a homeowner found that she couldn't get a mortgage because her real-estate company had failed to pay taxes owed on her house. She uncovered hundreds of similar cases, and the company was forced to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in back taxes. In retaliation, it sued the woman for slander and dragged her through six years of legal harassment before a jury found her innocent.

-- In Missouri, a high-school English teacher was sued for $1 million after complaining to a weekly newspaper that an incinerator burning hospital waste was a health hazard.

Unlike the average citizen, Consumers Union has the resources to defend itself against the Isuzu suit. It's a nonprofit organization, and Consumer Reports accepts no advertising, lest there be any appearance of bias, and never grants permission for any commercial use of its name or test results.

It accepts no contributions from corporations or law firms or even individuals if the check bears a business imprint. The 60-year-old magazine is supported by the generations of smart consumers who always consult Consumer Reports before making any major purchases.

As we have seen with tort deform, it is not difficult to close off access to the courts for certain kinds of lawsuits. I can't think of a more meritorious and constitutional cause.

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89 Nations
& 8 states
have banned
leghold traps.