HARRISBURG (March 16, 1999) - Pennsylvania Bar Association President Leslie Anne Miller issued the following statement regarding the Civil Justice Coalition and Senate Bill 5, which was introduced today in the Pennsylvania Senate:

�The Pennsylvania Bar Association traditionally has supported efforts to get meritorious lawsuits to trial quickly, but Senate Bill 5 does not appear to offer a real remedy. Instead, Senate Bill 5 would take away an important and fundamental Constitutional right of the people of Pennsylvania - the right to seek full redress of wrongs through the justice system.

Many of the provisions of the bill were addressed when the General Assembly unanimously passed and Governor Ridge signed into law Act 135 of 1996, which dealt with issues of the Medical CAT Fund and medical malpractice reform. Insofar as efforts to improve the justice system are concerned, Pennsylvania�s Supreme Court recently coordinated a complete revision of its Rules of Evidence procedures to promote efficiency in the courtroom. The Pennsylvania Bar Association and other interested groups, including the Civil Justice Coalition, were at the table with the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in bringing about these important and positive changes.

We question the Coalition�s premise that �fixing the system will bring tangible economic benefits� to the citizens of Pennsylvania. Some of the economic data used in the impact study commissioned by the Civil Justice Coalition is ten years old. Recent economic reports indicate increased business growth, low unemployment and other positive signals that Pennsylvania�s economy is on the upswing.

Given the fact that the Pennsylvania Bar Association represents both plaintiff and defense lawyers, we have appointed a special task force, headed by Laura E. Ellsworth of Pittsburgh and Edward H. Rubenstone of Bensalem, to analyze the proposed legislation. Our task force is willing and available to work with the General Assembly and with all other interested groups, including the Civil Justice Coalition.�