CCI/Class-Action Victims



	Let’s Talk about Corporate Accountability As many of you know, I’ve devoted years to developing effective counter-measures against abuses of power by irresponsible corporations. Today, there are still many misconceptions about the term “corporate campaign,” which I coined in 1976. A Corporate Campaign is not simply a campaign against a particular corporation; it is a highly sophisticated strategic and organizational approach that confronts power with power. With corporate power running amok, many funders/social investors, philanthropists and public-interest organizations are becoming more concerned about environmental and labor issues, human rights and animal welfare. They all need to move quickly and dramatically to prevent even greater suffering, loss of lives and irreversible damage to the ecosystem. My organization, Corporate Campaign, Inc. (CCI), has spent the last 21 years building broad coalitions of support while working mostly on behalf of labor causes. We’ve raised millions of dollars and helped achieve many significant victories, but we’ve often placed ourselves at risk by operating like a nonprofit group, doing much pro bono work and pouring our resources into charitable endeavors. CCI now seeks to form alliances with others (class-action victims, trial lawyers, funders/social investors, philanthropists and national and international organizations) to challenge powerful corporations and entire industries. We believe we can help raise hundreds of millions to finance an aggressive and ever-expanding fight for social, economic and environmental justice on a global scale. If you’re interested in pursuing these matters, you can find out more by reading “Are You a Class-Action Casualty of Corporate Greed?” below and “Wanted: Funders/Social Investors Who Will Fight for Justice and Corporate Accountability” and checking our Web site, www.corporatecampaign.org, for information about CCI and LEAPS (a 501 C3 project). Please contact me if you have any questions ((718) 852-2808 or e-mail at corpcamp@aol.com). Are You a Class-Action Casualty of Corporate Greed? Corporate Campaign, Inc. Seeks Alliance with Plaintiff-Victims, Trial Lawyers Trial lawyers often obtain excellent settlements and substantial punitive damages awards for victims of corporate crime, misconduct and negligence. Regrettably, much of what they win can vanish overnight when powerful corporations and their legal advisors exploit the always-lengthy and politically sensitive appeals process. The unfortunate result is frequently an overturned or greatly reduced settlement or a paltry damage award. Meanwhile, the long-suffering plaintiff-victims may have become incapacitated, experienced irreversible harm or died while awaiting some elusive justice. There is no better illustration of the above than the tangled web of litigation that arose from the infamous Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska on March 24, 1989. For more than 13 years, ExxonMobil and its predecessor company have spent countless millions on legal maneuvers to evade responsibility for one of the worst environmental disasters in U.S. history. ExxonMobil, one of the world’s wealthiest companies, hasn’t paid a penny of the $5.3 billion punitive damages award that was imposed by a federal court jury in September 1994. More than seven years later, in November 2001, a federal appeals court ordered further proceedings to reduce the company’s liability. U.S. News and World Report speculated that the award might be reduced by 80% or more. Reuters reported that the ruling left Eleanor McMullen, tribal chief for the native village of Port Graham, “pretty disgusted.” Dave Oesting, lead attorney for the plaintiff team that won the punitive damages award, said the case may wind up being appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, probably years from now. (UPDATE: The New York TImes reported that on Dec. 6, 2002, the punitive damages award against ExxonMobil was reduced to $4 billion by a federal district judge. Company spokesperson, Tom Cirigliano, stated the company’s position that “No punitive damages are really warranted in this case” and made it clear that ExxonMobil would continue to appeal.) I firmly believe that a properly-funded Corporate Campaign (See “WANTED: Funders/Social Investors Who Will Fight for Justice and Corporate Accountability” at www.corporatecamapign.org.), devised by and implemented with my firm, could make ExxonMobil realize that its best interests would be served by paying the full punitive damages award promptly, with interest. A successful outcome for the plaintiffs could come within three years. At the same time, I am certain we could force ExxonMobil to clean up its act in various other matters — from reversing its dangerous, head-in-the-sand stance on global warming to running its domestic and worldwide business operations in a socially responsible manner. I am very interested in having discussions with leaders of litigant groups, lead attorneys and law firms, particularly those representing class-action victims of ExxonMobil and other irresponsible corporations, to explore some innovative ways of obtaining a greater measure of justice and restitution far more quickly than has been possible in the past. I would also like to hear from funders/social investors, philanthropists, foundations, national and international organizations and community groups that share these concerns, and discuss how we might work together. Sincerely, Ray Rogers, Director Corporate Campaign, Inc. 25 Washington St., Suite 302 Brooklyn, N.Y. 11201 (718) 852-2808 corpcamp@aol.com www.corporatecampaign.org Click here to read “WANTED: Funders/Social Investors Who Will Fight for Justice and Corporate Accountability”

Let’s Talk about Corporate Accountability

As many of you know, I’ve devoted years to developing effective counter-measures against abuses of power by irresponsible corporations. Today, there are still many misconceptions about the term “corporate campaign,” which I coined in 1976. A Corporate Campaign is not simply a campaign against a particular corporation; it is a highly sophisticated strategic and organizational approach that confronts power with power.

With corporate power running amok, many funders/social investors, philanthropists and public-interest organizations are becoming more concerned about environmental and labor issues, human rights and animal welfare. They all need to move quickly and dramatically to prevent even greater suffering, loss of lives and irreversible damage to the ecosystem.

My organization, Corporate Campaign, Inc. (CCI), has spent the last 21 years building broad coalitions of support while working mostly on behalf of labor causes. We’ve raised millions of dollars and helped achieve many significant victories, but we’ve often placed ourselves at risk by operating like a nonprofit group, doing much pro bono work and pouring our resources into charitable endeavors.

CCI now seeks to form alliances with others (class-action victims, trial lawyers, funders/social investors, philanthropists and national and international organizations) to challenge powerful corporations and entire industries. We believe we can help raise hundreds of millions to finance an aggressive and ever-expanding fight for social, economic and environmental justice on a global scale.

If you’re interested in pursuing these matters, you can find out more by reading “Are You a Class-Action Casualty of Corporate Greed?” below and “Wanted: Funders/Social Investors Who Will Fight for Justice and Corporate Accountability” and checking our Web site, www.corporatecampaign.org, for information about CCI and LEAPS (a 501 C3 project). Please contact me if you have any questions ((718) 852-2808 or e-mail at corpcamp@aol.com).

Are You a Class-Action Casualty of Corporate Greed?

Corporate Campaign, Inc. Seeks Alliance with Plaintiff-Victims, Trial Lawyers

Trial lawyers often obtain excellent settlements and substantial punitive damages awards for victims of corporate crime, misconduct and negligence. Regrettably, much of what they win can vanish overnight when powerful corporations and their legal advisors exploit the always-lengthy and politically sensitive appeals process. The unfortunate result is frequently an overturned or greatly reduced settlement or a paltry damage award. Meanwhile, the long-suffering plaintiff-victims may have become incapacitated, experienced irreversible harm or died while awaiting some elusive justice.

There is no better illustration of the above than the tangled web of litigation that arose from the infamous Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska on March 24, 1989. For more than 13 years, ExxonMobil and its predecessor company have spent countless millions on legal maneuvers to evade responsibility for one of the worst environmental disasters in U.S. history.

ExxonMobil, one of the world’s wealthiest companies, hasn’t paid a penny of the $5.3 billion punitive damages award that was imposed by a federal court jury in September 1994. More than seven years later, in November 2001, a federal appeals court ordered further proceedings to reduce the company’s liability. U.S. News and World Report speculated that the award might be reduced by 80% or more. Reuters reported that the ruling left Eleanor McMullen, tribal chief for the native village of Port Graham, “pretty disgusted.” Dave Oesting, lead attorney for the plaintiff team that won the punitive damages award, said the case may wind up being appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, probably years from now. (UPDATE: The New York TImes reported that on Dec. 6, 2002, the punitive damages award against ExxonMobil was reduced to $4 billion by a federal district judge. Company spokesperson, Tom Cirigliano, stated the company’s position that “No punitive damages are really warranted in this case” and made it clear that ExxonMobil would continue to appeal.)

I firmly believe that a properly-funded Corporate Campaign (See “WANTED: Funders/Social Investors Who Will Fight for Justice and Corporate Accountability” at www.corporatecamapign.org.), devised by and implemented with my firm, could make ExxonMobil realize that its best interests would be served by paying the full punitive damages award promptly, with interest. A successful outcome for the plaintiffs could come within three years. At the same time, I am certain we could force ExxonMobil to clean up its act in various other matters — from reversing its dangerous, head-in-the-sand stance on global warming to running its domestic and worldwide business operations in a socially responsible manner.

I am very interested in having discussions with leaders of litigant groups, lead attorneys and law firms, particularly those representing class-action victims of ExxonMobil and other irresponsible corporations, to explore some innovative ways of obtaining a greater measure of justice and restitution far more quickly than has been possible in the past. I would also like to hear from funders/social investors, philanthropists, foundations, national and international organizations and community groups that share these concerns, and discuss how we might work together.

Sincerely,

Ray Rogers, Director
Corporate Campaign, Inc.
25 Washington St., Suite 302
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11201
(718) 852-2808
corpcamp@aol.com
www.corporatecampaign.org

Click here to read “WANTED: Funders/Social Investors Who Will Fight for Justice and Corporate Accountability”

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