Trial lawyers, who say they were demonized during 12 years of Republican congressional rule, are seeking vindication with the Democrats' return to power.
The plaintiffs' attorneys, who are among the biggest contributors to Democratic candidates, have renamed their chief lobbying group the American Association for Justice and are prepared to flex their rejuvenated political muscle. Their plans include pushing tougher enforcement of workplace-safety rules and enhanced patients' rights.
They say the shift in power also signals an end to the socalled tort reform backed by President Bush, which was aimed at limiting awards in personal-injury lawsuits against doctors and American corporations.
"The Republicans had a hell of a chance for the last couple of years and really didn't get that far," a trial attorney at the Coale Cooley firm in Washington, John Coale, said. "And now it's over."
The trial lawyers association said its political action committee contributed more than $2.5 million to 296 federal candidates for the 2006 elections, and individual members gave more than $20 million to Senate candidates. About 95% of the PAC money went to Democrats, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a Washington-based research group.
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