We live in an era of lawsuits based more in emotion than fact. In the manufacturing sector, we see litigation costs continuously rising, and often at the expense of a better wage for the American worker. The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) will shine a light on this concerning trend, beginning with an opinion piece just published in Investor’s Business Daily.
Linda Kelly, the NAM’s Senior Vice President and General Counsel, and leader of the Manufacturers’ Center for Legal Action describes in Investor’s Business Daily how trial lawyers seek to extort American workers, consumers and shareholders purely for profit. The piece lays out the widespread ramifications that new lawsuits pose to manufacturers in America, including the 12 million men and women that the NAM proudly represents across the United States.
Since 2005, manufacturers in America have reduced carbon emissions by 10 percent, all the while growing the American economy by 19 percent. Despite this clear commitment to the environment and economic prosperity for the American people, trial lawyers have initiated a disingenuous campaign – backed by well-funded activists – to discredit manufacturers and reap financial benefits at the cost of American workers and their families.
“Manufacturers are committed to climate action and are actively crafting solutions to this complex global challenge.”
One lawyer in particular, Matthew Pawa, is a repeat player in this arena. In 2008 he unsuccessfully argued that American manufacturers had created a “public nuisance,” in an attempt to set precedent for future lucrative endeavors. U.S. courts resoundingly rejected Pawa’s claims, but his politically motivated legal efforts continue today in cities like San Francisco and Oakland.
“Manufacturers are confident the courts will once again dismiss these efforts, and see these lawsuits for what they are—legal attacks aimed at punishing an industry they don’t like. But manufacturers continue to be harassed by politically-motivated legal officers operating with impunity beyond the reach of the courts.”
As Kelly points out, “every dollar spent defending against meritless attacks is a dollar not spent on innovation and game-changing revolutions that make our world healthier and communities safer,” and American manufacturers can ill afford to sustain unnecessary costs to their businesses and reputations.
All Americans should be wary of this free-for-all targeting by trial lawyers against the lifeblood of our economy especially given the remarkable achievements that manufacturers have made toward enriching our environment and economic prosperity. The NAM is proud to support its members facing these frivolous lawsuits, and will continue to work on behalf of the millions of American workers, consumers and shareholders that bear the brunt of these misguided legal attacks.