Tort limit strike one-man mistake
I was very disheartened when you reported that the $750,000 tort limit law of Tennessee was struck down by a judge. Here, a single man’s opinion negated the long and careful deliberations of the government of Tennessee. Juries in this country seem to me as fickle as the crowd that wanted to make Christ king on Palm Sunday and yelled to “crucify him!” five days later. Lawyers now incite juries to render equally insane verdicts. For example, McDonald’s was sued for millions for serving hot coffee. You recently reported that Johns Hopkins Hospital was sued for millions because a urologist took photos of his operations for the doctor’s own records. Who is going to recognize a photo of anyone’s private parts? When my dad, a rectal doctor, took photos of his operations, no one thought anything of it. Last week, a crazy co-pilot purposely crashed his plane, killing 150 passengers. By international law, an airline is usually protected by a $170,000 limit of liability per passenger death. Why the gigantic discrepancy? Why is Tennessee law not legal when international law is?
Dr. Tom Herzog
‘Super Judge’ Thomas fights for justice
All of us are aware of our fictional hero Superman and his famous fight for peace, justice and the American way. But are we aware of a local real-life superhero who has quietly taken up the banner in the fight for justice and Tennessee’s constitutional guarantee of a jury trial. Yes, this person’s “Clark Kent” disguise is soft spoken Neil Thomas. But when he dons his magic robe, he becomes “Super Judge” — able to understand tall legal issues and get to the heart of the matter faster than a speeding bullet. Thanks to Super Judge, a well-funded attack on our juries by special interests has been thwarted. And those of us who cherish our rights to vote and a trial by jury could not be happier. Albeit, we must admit that Super Judge is a Republican.
Blake Moore
Wilderness Act must be passed
The Cherokee National Forest — stretching across East Tennessee — is treasured acreage. Trout species swim its streams; dozens of mammals and birds, reptiles and amphibians populate its woods. It’s also an outdoor recreation playground. From all over the world, hikers and hunters, fishers and campers come to East Tennessee to enjoy the forest. As sons of East Tennessee, Sens. Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker recognize the value of our outdoor resources — particularly the Cherokee National Forest. They recently reintroduced the Tennessee Wilderness Act that would expand the forest’s protected area by tens of thousands of acres. Currently, only 10 percent of the forest is protected. Further, it has been 30 years since a single new acre of protected wilderness has been declared in Tennessee — even though we are a world-class outdoor recreational destination. Passing the Tennessee Wilderness Act won’t cost a single job, and not one mining or logging business would close down. Most importantly, it would also preserve this incredible area for the enjoyment of future generations.. I hope U.S. House Rep. Charles “Chuck” Fleischmann joins Sens. Alexander and Corker in a leadership role to safeguard the Cherokee National Forest for our children and grandchildren.
Robertson McGavock, Treasurer Tennessee Trails Association Chapter Hixson