Katie Gommel's blog

An op-ed by Joanna C. Schwartz, an assistant professor of law at the University of California, Los Angeles, in today’s New York Times confirms what we have always understood: accountably in the courts improves patient safety. 

A new study out yesterday from the Journal of the American Medical Association shows private hospitals profit more from their own surgical errors than from treatments without complications.  These results indicate that hospitals do not have a financial incentive to improve patient safety.

Rachel Natelson, Legal Director at the Service Women’s Action Network, penned an op-ed for TIME magazine on the Oscar-nominated documentary The Invisible War. This documentary highlights how current law eliminates fundamental Constitutional rights for active duty military. 

A New York Times article by Dr. Pauline Chen takes aim at the time struggle care providers face after being named in a medical lawsuit.  She argues with anecdotes including the story of a colleague who faced a “lost year of my life” after being named in a lawsuit.  

AAJ CEO Linda Lipsen will be a guest on the Ring of Fire radio show with Mike Papantonio as part of a show entitled, “The Web of Tort Reform.” Be sure to listen in on Saturday, January 12th, from 3-6 PM EST for the whole show. Ms. Lipsen address below our new online campaign, takejusticeback.com, and talks about how corporations strategically work to undermine your legal rights by limiting access to the civil justice system.

In a partisan atmosphere that extends beyond Washington, supporting our troops is one thing that brings this country together.  But few people probably know about a tremendous disservice being done to our military men and women; by volunteering to serve, they lose fundamental rights granted to every other American.  

The answer is yes.  And anyone who knows this should be deeply concerned about it.

Richard D. Alaniz, a senior partner at Alaniz and Schraeder, penned a very telling article for Accountingweb.com laying out the arguments why corporations should use arbitration agreements in employee contracts.  

There are many faults with this article, but most notably it provides a very rosy picture of arbitration and lacks any real perspective for employees.  

Be sure to check out the full verison of the December issue of the Let America Know newsletter.  

Just one day after BP agreed to pay the federal government 4.5 billion dollars and criminal manslaughter charges were filed against two BP executives, we have yet another oil industry explosion in the Gulf. 

It is too early to make a comparison, but it’s clear this is an industry that needs greater accountability.  Unfortunately right now the legislative climate prevents that.