Reply #11: Thanks! I've had occasion to do so...

[No Exit]

for example, I have some long-time friends whose house in New Orleans was destroyed. They have just been told by their flood insurance that, er, the insurance company is not planning to pay quite as much as one would think they'd pay, were one's house to be inundated with water literally up to the ceiling, which water stayed in for 2 weeks.

I said, well, if you have to sue...

She said, well, husband says what about a class action?

I said, er, see, the republican congress has passed legislation to severely curtail class actions.

I then said, wonder if you guys' insurance contract has an ARBITRATION CLAUSE in it. This could prevent you from filing suit unless certain difficult prerequisites are met...

Arbitration clause? she asked.

Yes, said I--it's this thing that the REPUBLICAN legislators and state courts in various states have been allowing in contracts--to protect the insurance companies...

Oh dear, oh dear... and just think, the republicans have all been taught that a "plaintiff" in a lawsuit is the scum of the earth. And now they might have to BE one...