🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1994Jun6.155643.3526@pbhye.PacBell.COM> mjvande@PacBell.COM (Mike Vandeman) writes:
>>Why doesn't someone sue an oil company or a car manufacturer for the 
>>environmental damage they cause through the promotion/production of 
>>their products.  Couldn't GreenPeace, or some other organization, 
>>afford to do this.  The organization could act on behalf of both 
>>humanity and every other species on earth.  What a precedent this 
>>would set--if a company knowingly produces and promotes a substance or 
>>product which is in anyway harmful to the biosphere, it would be 
>>punished for putting all living organisms, including the owners of 
>>whatever company it is, at risk of damage and/or extinction.


Hmm.  Well, let's see.  Just what cause of action is this lawsuit based 
on?  To sue someone you have to have damage that is unique to you and not 
damage to the world at large.  

Are you saying that the oil companies or car companies are violating 
environmental laws and that the govenrment is failing to enforce?  If so, 
there are such a thing as citizens suits, and they are often brought.

The other basis for suing companies is - people buy some stock - they 
then ask for issues to be put on the agenda at shareholders meetings - 
they then sue when they are not.

The environmental groups are not going to waste their time bringing a 
lawsuit against companies just because they are polluting.  They would be 
- and ought to be - laughed out of court.
-- 
Sherry Katz - slkatz@netcom.com
Los Angeles, CA  //\\  Ninja 250  Taurus SHO.  
Ninja = looks fast, goes slow; SHO = goes fast, looks slow