NY Trial Lawyers Nuke Fraud Reform

Letter to Philippians: No surprise here. Even when a progressive Dem Gov tries to reform a corrupt system, like NY’s Hochul attempt to stop rampant insurance fraud, there always seems to be fellow Dems who refuse to even negotiate needed legislation. Smell a lawyer?

The WSJ’s editorial board was flummoxed by the ironic reality: “Here’s something we never thought we’d see: A Democratic Governor of New York taking on the trial lawyers who control Albany. But that’s what Gov. Kathy Hochul is doing & we hope she’s hired a food-taster.” What’s not passing the smell test for Dem legislators this time is Hochul’s wanting them to pass “modest auto insurance reforms to curb abusive litigation.” Opines the editors, “Trial lawyers are doing the equivalent of lying down in the street to block her reforms.” What’s the personal injury lawyers’ beef now? They apparently like New York’s current system of “inviting” fraudulent insurance claims by (unlike most states) letting drivers file damage claims from their insurers even if they were stinking drunk & caused the crash.

The WSJ bluntly says, “crashes are often staged.” The lawyers are outraged at such an insinuation, i.e., that they or their clients would ever dream of doing such a thing. Having practiced law & seen what goes on, however, I’d say, “dream on,” the scams of SOME lawyers & their clients happen all the time. The fraud not only bilks the insurance companies but raises premiums for all the honest drivers out there. Bottom line: There’s no more reason for NY lawyers to defend this foolish law than for the Iranian fanatics to have an A-bomb.

Davd Soul