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[see commentary on Overlawyered.com, Nov. 7, 2000]
Rep. Patrick Kennedy, "Hardball" (CNBC), Oct. 10, 2000 (excerpt):...[CHRIS] MATTHEWS: Isn't a danger we'll be run by the trial lawyers if your side wins?
Rep. KENNEDY: Trial lawyers?
MATTHEWS: The ones that...
Rep. KENNEDY: Are you kidding me?
MATTHEWS: ...don't want tort reform.
Rep. KENNEDY: This is our civil justice system, Chris. I don't know about you but I'm glad I live in America.
MATTHEWS: Yeah.
Rep. KENNEDY: I mean, do you want to go someplace else and live under a different civil justice system?
MATTHEWS: Do you -- you -- you identify with the -- with the ambulance chasers that are in every newspaper in the country?
Rep. KENNEDY: Ambulance chasers. That's the biggest -- you know what?
MATTHEWS: You like those guys.
Rep. KENNEDY: The fact of the matter is -- What? You like Bridgestone/Firestone? That's what I understand.
MATTHEWS: No, no. I'm a little skeptical of the motives of so -- of...
Rep. KENNEDY: Are you skeptical of the fact that they take -- what i -- what is that -- what are they going to impact? You -- you're saying a few trial lawyers who -- who have -- who are based upon...
MATTHEWS: Right.
Rep. KENNEDY: ...a -- a trial by jury system, meaning you and your peers.
MATTHEWS: Because they're really good guys, right?
Rep. KENNEDY: You don't trust your peers, do you, Chris?
MATTHEWS: You like trial lawyers. No, I think -- I think there's probably too much litigation in the country and too many big settlements.
Rep. KENNEDY: That is such -- what, have you been reading the Republican propaganda recently?
MATTHEWS: OK, let's talk -- let's move on here....
[return to commentary on Overlawyered.com, Nov. 7, 2000]