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BP and Law Clinics ? One Spooky Interaction

By Joe Consumer

Einstein once coined the excellent phrase "spooky action at a distance."  He was referring to the ?action at a distance? theory in physics, the ?interaction of two objects which are separated in space with no known mediator of the interaction.? Not that we have a clue as to what that means, but we agree with Einstein - sounds spooky!  It also suddenly reminded me of two stories we?ve covering lately, which suddenly came together, maybe in space, but certainly in Louisiana.

As if there aren?t more important things for them to worry about, last week  BP?s trade association, the Louisiana Chemical Association (LCA), tried to do what polluters in Maryland just tried and failed: to cut state funding from any school whose law clinic sues a government agency or business.  This dementedly misguided bill was directed at Tulane?s Environmental Law Clinic, the state?s only environmental law clinic, which ?sometimes takes legal action against polluting companies and regulatory agencies.? Luckily, the bill was killed yesterday in the Louisiana State Senate - unaminously.

According to the Huffington Post, "in a letter sent to its 61 corporate members earlier in May, LCA president Dan Borne wrote:

This bill is the culmination of years of frustration with Tulane and its support for its environmental law clinic not only on the part of the chemical industry but other business and chamber groups as well. The [association] Board of Directors voted to actively engage the clinic by targeting Tulane itself, which gives cover to its out-of-state, student want-to-be lawyers and their job killing lawsuits."

Local news reported on the questioning by State Senator Karen Carter Peterson of LCA witnesses as to whether ?this bill was aimed at keeping the clinic from suing BP.? Tulane Environmental Law Clinic director Adam Babich told the Huffington Post, "Their fundamental problem is that they don't want our clients to have lawyers."

See how it?s all interacting?

Full post as published by ThePopTort on May 20, 2010 (boomark / email).