Supreme Court Rules Against Attorneys

[marshabar1]

Reporting from Washington—
The Supreme Court, which winds up its term Monday, has once again shown itself to be highly skeptical of large lawsuits against big business, regardless of whether the suits are intended to protect workers, consumers or the environment.

This year, a 5-4 conservative majority gave companies a stronger shield against class-action claims from consumers who said they were cheated and from employees who said they were victims of discrimination.

The same five justices also blocked lawsuits against the makers of generic drugs for failing to warn patients of new dangers. And in a unanimous decision, the high court killed a broad lawsuit that sought to force the major power producers to limit the carbon pollution linked to global warming.

"They're very suspicious of lawyer-driven lawsuits," said Roy T. Englert Jr., a Washington attorney who defends businesses before the high court. "Some of these cases don't look as though they are about injured parties, but instead, they look like the lawyers are driving the bus."

www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-court-business-20110625,0,1702818.story