[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 125 (Thursday, September 23, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S11375]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             RECOGNIZING THE CITIZENS AGAINST LAWSUIT ABUSE

 Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, today I would like to 
recognize a volunteer group of West Virginians who have joined together 
to educate the public on an important issue affecting our state and the 
nation. These individuals, who have formed Citizens Against Lawsuit 
Abuse, CALA, are disseminating information to the public about our 
civil justice system, and they are working to encourage jury service 
and personal responsibility in our society.
  CALA spokespersons based in Huntington, Charleston, Bluefield, Logan, 
Bridgeport, Fairmont, Morgantown and other cities in our state are 
educating the public about how lawsuit abuse can affect consumers. The 
CALA groups in West Virginia have raised funds to provide scholarships 
to students statewide through essay contests where the students address 
the important topic of jury service and personal responsibility.
  Teaching our children the value of civic responsibility is a vitally 
important component of learning, and CALA's efforts have not gone 
unnoticed. By emphasizing the virtues of jury service, CALA is helping 
to give our children a more well-rounded education and is promoting 
values which will serve these children, and our future, well. I am 
proud that many of West Virginia's finest students, from our public and 
private secondary schools, have participated in these essay contests 
and have been recognized for their efforts in our local media. The 
winning high school essayists in last year's CALA scholarship contest 
were Joshua Linville, Sherman High School, Boone County; Amanda Knapp, 
Pt. Pleasant High School, Mason County; Matthew Walker, St. Joseph 
Catholic High School, Cabell County; Courtney Ahlborn, Parkersburg 
South High School, Wood County; Sarah Mauller, East Fairmont High 
School, Marion County; and Misty Lanham, Tygarts Valley High School, 
Randolph County.
  Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse groups have declared September 19 
through 25 to be ``Lawsuit Abuse Awareness Week'' in West Virginia. I 
commend the citizens for their dedication and commitment and to 
acknowledge this week as time of public awareness on the various issues 
affecting civil justice in our state. Our citizens should be encouraged 
to educate themselves about our civil justice system and how they can 
help to make it the best in the world.

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