‘Cash Cow’ Brings Agriculture’s Message To Washington MICHELLE KUNJAPPU Lancaster Farming Staff WASHINGTON, D.C. A cow on the U.S. Mall may be an unusual sight, but agriculture representatives from across America thought that an Ayr shire draped with a sign pres ented their message with clarity. The cow’s sign, “Don’t Make Agriculture a Cash Cow for Class Action Lawsuits,” embodied what 20 agricultural leaders pre pared to present to legislative leaders from their respective states. After a briefing at the White House, the group, which included hog farmers, poultry producers, tomato growers, food processors, a major grocery store chain, and See One Of These Badger Dealers Annvtlte BHM Farm Equipment 717-867-2211 CaHtete CFS 717-243-4419 Ch«mb»r«burg CFS 717-264-3533 4 other ag organizations gathered on the Mall for a press conference to call on the U.S. Senate to pass the Class Action Fairness Act (S. 1712), a bipartisan bill that passed the U.S. House in March. It is now pending in the Sen ate. “There has been a dramatic in crease in the number of frivolous class-action lawsuits filed against high tech, insurance, health care, manufacturing and financial services companies in state courts over the last decade,” said Bryce Neidig, president of the Farm Bureau of Nebraska. “Those of us in the ag sector are concerned that we may be the next target of these abusive law suits. Agriculture is vital to our Lancaster Show-Ease Stall Co 717-299-2536 Otey Pikeville Equipment 610-987-6277 nation’s economy, and Congress must take steps to assure that we do not become the next ‘cash cow’ for trial lawyers. “Class-action reform would re store fairness to our legal system, reduce litigation expenses, curtail excessive class action suits, and protect consumers,” said Neidig. About 400 agriculture organi zations have signed a letter of support of the bill. “It is a unique opportunity for us to have such broad-based support,” he said. While the ag leaders were in Washington, they planned to dis tribute the letter that asks for the passage of the act. The letter states that “in recent years, our industry has come under increasing attack from frivolous class-action law suits. This dramatic increase in class-action lawsuits fil ings is impacting our indus try’s ability to do business and is having a severe im pact on our nations econo my. S. 1712 would restore fairness to the class-action system, reduce litigation ex penses, curb frivolous class action suits, and protect con sumers.” Troy Fallbrook Fabrication 570-297-3802 Wateontown Rovendale Ag & Barn Equip 570-538-9564 In addition, the letter rkeep Your Cows Comfortable with^ ; “TUNNEL VENTILATION” 5 SSaerotecK ICjM The Ventilation System Experts *'T **m,- Free Stall Barn, Elizabethtown, PA CHECK OUR PRICES BEFORE YOU BUY! Fans In Stock For Immediate Delivery SCHAEFER Air Circulation Ideal For Freestall Barn Ventilation I “18 CEDAR CREST EQUIPMENT Parts Stores: East Earl —717-354-0584 • Quarryville—7l7- 806-0484 states that the legislation would ensure that consumers, not law yers, receive benefits of any class action settlement. Proper legisla tion would reduce the number of financially draining frivolous lawsuits that agriculture busi nesses have had to face, accord ing to the letter. Leo Bergeron, president of the Agriculture representatives from across the U.S. gath ered to urge their senators to pass the Class Action Fair ness Act to restrain frivolous class-action lawsuits. In the photo Kelly Jo Forrest stands at the halter of Anchor Mere CoDream. Fans 24” & 36” 800-646-6601 Lancaster Farming, Saturday, July 27, 2002-A2l California State Grange, said that “the family farm is the back bone of agriculture. This type of action (frivolous lawsuits) would definitely break the back of the family farmer.” Dean Koplik, Murrays Chick ens, New York, said that the Tie Stall Barn, Womelsdorf, PA 339 King Street, Myerstown PA 17067 (Turn to Page A 22) WILL SHIP ANYWHERE 717-866-1888
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