Letter: Green Amendment is the right choice
to the editor
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FILE. Letter writer says, But enshrining the right to a livable environment in the state’s Bill of Rights provides a new avenue for victims of environmental wrong-doing to appeal. (Will Waldron/Times Union)Will Waldron/Albany Times Union
In objecting to the proposed Green Amendment guaranteeing a right to clean air and water and a healthy environment, Tom Stebbins, executive director of the Lawsuit Reform Alliance of New York, is quoted in the article “Deciding to come clean” March 21, as threatening, “This proposed Green Amendment will lead to an explosion of litigation.”
Stebbins
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - A Florida company that advances loans to plaintiffs in personal injury lawsuits has donated $100,000 to the New York State Trial Lawyers Association in a move one tort-reform advocate described as an attempt to influence lawmakers considering tighter regulation of the industry.
USClaims said the donation makes it a “Skyline Partner” of NYSTLA and one of the group’s leading sponsors. US Claims is a unit of Delray Beach, Fla.-based DRB Financial Solutions, which describes itself as “America’s premier pre-settlement funding company, lending money to plaintiffs before they settle their cases as well as offering lump sums to people in exchange for singing over rights to court-ordered annuity payments over time.
NY pols repeal COVID liability protections for health providers waynepost.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from waynepost.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
PUBLISHED 5:31 AM ET Feb. 09, 2021 PUBLISHED 5:31 AM EST Feb. 09, 2021
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The state Assembly on Monday gave final approval to a constitutional amendment guaranteeing New Yorkers have clean air and water, sending the sweeping environmental bill of rights to voters in a referendum in November.
For environmental groups, the amendment s advancement is a victory that could lead to further action on climate change and boosting drinking water standards. But, lawsuit reform groups fret the measure could lead to a torrent of lawsuits citing the amendment s lofty goals.
The amendment, which was previously approved for the second time in two years by the state Senate last month, calls for 19 million New Yorkers to have the right to clean air and water, and a healthful environment.