ustxtxb_obs_1986_05_30_50_00004-00000_000.pdf

iltnYPWWVirretWvlita r vw OrrS 414JVv 7IMCCTMAYIIP rOlvieAltMoloot iv+t wrwrzietvalecisc \\ Whole Earth Provision Company Nature Discovery Gifts amaze, inform, delight Choose from our business or family gifts of lasting value, for all ages, price ranges and any occasion. Call or stop by and let us make suggestions. 2410 San Antonio St. 4006 South Lamar Blvd. 8868 Research Blvd. 41045.3ere..freL-V!;t:x.7490 41.4Caa.,44u.:1414talkAtiali.i.;”10A4 014,4141:Xih.tatA.VAIA6M4AKUIANV 4 MAY 30, 1986 would have raised the ceiling for Aid to Families with raising the ceiling to $48. This is not the voting record of someone to whom the people’s interests should be entrusted. Justice Raul Gonzalez, on the other hand, while having a judicial record that could be characterized as favorable to business interests, has shown sympathy for the plight of farmworkers. His tenure as a state district judge has been marked by fairness and consistency, say those who have practiced before him. Beyond that, it is important to the Democratic party to have a Mexican American on the ballot, and more important to the state to have a Mexican American Valley resident on the court. It should be noted that it is also important for state Sen. John Sharp to be nominated for the Railroad Commission since his runoff opponent, one P.S.”Sam” Ervin, capitalized on his new name while waging a campaign that had little to do with the’ Railroad Commission but a great deal to do with such strange notions as shooting undocumented workers. IN THE Republican primary, we once again endorse John Thomas Henderson for the Railroad Commission. Henderson surprised pollsters by leading the field while the predicted frontrunner, Ed Emmett, finished third. Emmett has now endorsed Milton Fox, as the two oil candidates gang up on the independent Henderson. Editors DIALOGUE Houston Arms While I appreciate the point made by Geoff Baskir in his letter \(“Buy Houston,” TO, relatively free of dependence on the military industry, I’d like to point out one glaring exception to his thesis: NASA. In this era of Star Wars and topsecret shuttle payloads, can anyone doubt any longer that our space program both a PR campaign for and an essential component of the arms race? Herbert Ashe Galveston Punitive Proposal The insurance “crisis” is a fabricated “crisis” like the malpractice crisis of a few years ago. The doctors got much of their legislative relief and the insurance rates didn’t go down but up; the number of malpractice suits didn’t go down, but the doctor’s gripe still went up; and the judicial costs in trying and defending cases went up with the professional and expert witness costs of bringing a winnable suit to trial. As a lawyer I have practiced malpractice law extensively the last 20 years, and I have a suggestion to make. To understand it let me set the scene on the issue of punitive damages. Punitive damages are awarded by a jury or judge when the evidence of misconduct by the policemen, city, doctor, lawyer, or other professional brought into court is gross. So gross as to shock that jury’s conscience of fair play. Being shocked what can they do? Those jurors can do one thing only, grant a punitive award. By a punitive award, they shout: “Check your servant or, professional. They do wrong.” In our adversary system the judge has for generations allowed the plaintiff to receive those damages, to cover the increased cost to himself and his attorney of expenses, time, effort and anguish and contumely he may suffer at the hands of those defendants and others of their class doing the same thing. As an attorney for the injured person, I know that those “big verdict cases” come from just the horrendous evidence that shocked their sense of fair play. The general public should thank them for giving that punitive damage award. But I, and most plaintiff’s ‘attorneys and their clients, would find nothing wrong with putting that punitive damage in the State treasury, the Court treasury, or to a charity, after one-third has been taken out for attorneys fees and expenses, such as is taken out of that plaintiff’s damage verdict for lost wages, earning capacity, and the pain and suffering that will go on for his life. Let the punitive damage award come forth, so the general public can read in their press of the need for the correction that punitive award suggests. Now: The insurance industry, who is pulling your leg about these big verdicts, has the means in its own hands to avoid these punitive award judgments. Just don’t insure them! Just insure that client against awards of actual damages! For this concession from the injured plaintiff and his attorney, we ask of the insurance industry in Texas, that they join us and recommend repeal of a statute in this state that keeps us and anyone else, including the judge, from mentioning “insurance” to a jury. Fair enough? Otto B. Mullinax Dallas Rambo Reagan I enjoy the Texas Observer very much. In the May 2, 1986, issue, your article “Stop the President” is one of the best I ever read. It’s about damn time that someone set Rambo Reagan and the Administration back on their heels. I’ve been through the Korea and Vietnam fiascos and want no more. Wayne L. Doering Amarillo