Conflict of interest tanks worker's case

[antigop]

Source: Associated Press

For years, Braxton Berkley was exposed to chemicals while helping build top-secret military planes at Lockheed Martin's storied Skunk Works plant. He says those chemicals made him ill — but his case reached a dead end at the state's highest court.


The California Supreme Court has refused to hear his appeal not on legal merits, but because four of the seven justices cited a conflict of interest because they controlled stock in oil companies that provided some of the solvents at issue in the case.

"It's unfair and I am very disgusted with the courts," said Berkley, who worked at Lockheed during the height of the Cold War and is now a minister in Pacoima, Calif. He suffers from diabetes and arthritis that he says were caused by the chemicals. "A lot of my friends died because of the toxic chemicals we handled."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080114/ap_on_re_us/supreme_court_conflict

[ret5hd]

1. So, oil companies are now exempt from laws...

i guess i'm not surprised.

[brentspeak]

2. It is unfair. There has to be a way for Berkley to get his case heard

[Faux pas]

3. Just about the time i think i've heard it all....

stuff like this makes me wanna :puke:. 'The rich man does the dancing while the poor man pays the band'.

[Toots]

4. But Scalia could not excuse himself for conflict of interest when he is Cheney's hunting partner

They are not required to excuse themselves. They chose to do so just to sabatage this case..I would bet any amount of money they are all Republican judges...It is very difficult to find a Democrat that would behave in such a manner..

[Orsino]

5. Money talks.

The California Supreme is hopelessly compromised.

Hey, Californians! How about forcing the justices to divest, or face impeachment?