Dick Cheney: Master Litigator
from Halliburton Watch - http://www.halliburtonwatch.org/news/cheneylawsuits_099.html 

"We need legal reform because the strength of our economy is undermined by frivolous lawsuits." - Dick Cheney


Vice President Cheney says the court system is filled with too many lawsuits filed by individuals, even though nearly half of all lawsuits each year are filed by corporations suing other corporations. So, HalliburtonWatch.org conducted a survey of court actions filed by Halliburton and its subsidiaries between 1995 and 2000 -- the period when Cheney was CEO of the company. The survey indicates that while Mr. Cheney denounces lawsuits filed by citizens, he never mentions that corporations like Halliburton play a far bigger role in filling the court system with lawsuits. Nor does he ask whether those corporate lawsuits are "frivolous."

During Cheney's 5-year tenure as CEO, Halliburton was involved in 151 court claims it filed in 15 states around the nation. On average, Halliburton petitioned America's legal system 30 times per year while Cheney was CEO. In filing these court actions, Halliburton was seeking everything from injunctions and evictions to payments of debt.

Although Halliburton earns billions in revenues each year, it sued people or corporations in small claims court for as little as $1,500. It sued 15 debtors for less than $10,000 each, 24 debtors for less than $15,000 each and 40 debtors for less than $100,000 each.

Most of Halliburton's court actions were filed against other corporations, with only 24 of the 151 claims filed against individuals. Thirty-three of the claims (or 22 percent) were filed by Halliburton's subsidiary, Dresser Industries, against insurance companies.

The vice president believes the number of personal injury lawsuits has skyrocketed over the years and is seeking legislation to stop it. But studies have shown that the number of those lawsuits is actually declining. Between 1993 and 2002, personal injury lawsuits declined by 5 percent while lawsuits based on contract disputes increased by 21 percent. Moreover, the number of lawsuits involving contract disputes between corporations is ten times the number of lawsuits filed by injured consumers in products liability and medical malpractice actions. Studies also show that doctor mistakes kill more people each year than auto accidents, breast cancer or AIDS - an indication that doctors, not lawyers, are most responsible for lawsuits filed against them.