Columnist says personal injury lawyers linked to Brain Injury Association

Posted | Contributed by LONNOL

Columnist Eric Peters says that many members supporting the Brain Injury Association, the group charged by Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass) to explore the link between thrill rides and brain injury, are also members of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. The link suggests that such collaboration with may influence the results of their study, which could benefit personal injury lawyers in such a way that would open the door for more lawsuits.

Read more from the syndicated columnist Eric Peters from the Providence Journal.

Wow... doesn't that sound scandalous! How can anyone take that group seriously given their ties?

Yet another example of how you can't outright trust anything that comes out of Washington.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
"Let's stop saying 'don't quote me,' because if no one quotes you, you probably haven't said a thing worth saying." - Dogma, KMFDM

Somehow I'm not surprised ...

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"The key to a happy life is moderation" -- Jon Stewart

Always good to see a journalist who actually investigates a story, and doesn't just print the press release some group sent him.

I do wonder about the statement below. I find it hard to believe that Markey is not aware of this fact. Anyone know how much money Markey gets from trial lawyers?

"Markey, who recently urged the Brain Injury Association to form an independent "blue-ribbon panel" to study the issue, appears to be unaware of the BIA's intimate connection to personal-injury lawyers."

I was severely chastised over on Theme Park Insider for daring to say that I trusted private industry (like amusement parks) more than I trusted government (anal retentives like Rep. Markey).

I still trust the parks more than these Mommy State advocating sniveling liberals. They make me sick!

Unfortunately, you wonder how many of our state reps or congressmen really know this. How many take the time to research issues before they vote on them?

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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead

Well to the credit of Congress in general, most think Markey is wasting everyone's time, and none of his amusement junk has even managed to get out of committee as far as I remember.

I also would trust private business alot more than our government. This is all a scam to gin up more business for the trial lawyers who will need more targets. Coasters are a target just as McDonalds is. The truth doesnt matter to the trail lawyers because they know they can sell sad sap to moronic juruor's and get multi million dollar awards!! Great article!!

The funny thing is, business is far more accountable than government is. If government wastes money, we complain and hopefully don't re-elect the people involved. If businesses waste money (or hurt people), they go out of business. Government has no Darwinesque process.

Excellent point, and one that all the pro-regulation people seem to miss. If parks really started killing their patrons off, pretty soon they'd kill THEMSELVES off. It may sound cynical, but its in their own best interest to make sure they DON'T hurt anyone. Why Markey and company can't grasp this simple concept is beyond me.

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--Greg
"Are you justified in taking life to save life?" -- The Great Debate, Dream Theater
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I'm a very cynical person and I believe the congressmen already know who's funding this "research"; mainly because trial lawyers are big contributors to election funds. It wouldn't surprise me at all to find out that everyone, Markey most of all, knows exactly what's going on but have been trying to hide it from the public.

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Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein

As I've said before, common law seems to provide adequate motivation for amusement parks to be safe. Extra regulations simply are not necessary.

While lawyers are major supporter of the BIA and there may be heavy links between the ATLA and BIA at state levels, there is only one member of the ATLA who is an officer or board member of the national BIA. Most of the board members appear to be medical professionals. The article may have overstated the link between BIA and ATLA somewhat.

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