In favor of even handed justice

To the editor:

We share your hope that the new medical liability reform bill survives the inevitable court challenges ("Hurdles yet to come," May 29). Many in Springfield--the governor and legislators from both parties--deserve credit for forging a compromise that will go a long way toward keeping talented, dedicated doctors here in the state.

We're also hopeful this initial victory will set the stage for greater gains down the road, specifically reform of our entire civil justice system. Only a handful of die-hard trial lawyers and their few legislative and judicial allies still believe that system is working.

But there is plenty of proof to the contrary, including a 46th place Harris survey ranking among states in terms of legal fairness and a loss of economic opportunity for many citizens whose jobs have moved out of state.

The people of Illinois, through their representatives in Springfield, have expressed their desire to reform a system that serves a few at the expense of many. It's time to re-write that equation by forging a system that dispenses justice as fairly as possible and signals to the world that Illinois is open for business.

Dawn Stillwagon
Troy