The U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) announced the launch of a movie trailer in Albany, NY as part of its nationwide Faces of Lawsuit Abuse public awareness campaign, which aims to show how abusive lawsuits affect small businesses and workers in very real ways.
“We are bringing these stories to the public in New York, which faces high unemployment, as a reminder that lawsuits can hold back the small businesses that we are relying on to create jobs,” said ILR President Lisa Rickard.
The nationwide campaign includes a collection of video stories of lawsuit abuse victims. The trailer playing in Albany features a family-owned Michigan foundry that was sued by a man who had filed 23 previous lawsuits. The plaintiff alleged that the foundry, Acra Cast, was responsible for contamination on his cars and at his home. Acra Cast has always been in full compliance with all environmental regulations, and it was later discovered that the plaintiff did not own some of the cars he claimed compensation for. He had disposed of the carpets and cleaned the house siding before evidence could be collected. The lawsuit was eventually dismissed after almost three years in court but at significant cost, including almost $20,000 out of Acra Cast’s pocket—a large sum for the small company.
The movie trailer, which will play at Regal Crossgates 18 in Albany through January, can be seen at www.facesoflawsuitabuse.org. The campaign also includes a national television, radio, and online advertising effort.
“The lawsuits filed against the small businesses featured in this campaign cost time and money, which could have been used to grow their companies and create jobs,” said Rickard. According to the Small Business Administration, 52% of lawsuits target small business, the economic engine that creates 64% of America’s jobs.
ILR seeks to promote civil justice reform through legislative, political, judicial, and educational activities at the national, state, and local levels.
The U.S. Chamber is the world’s largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.
Contact:Mark Szymanski (202) 463-5874 U.S. Chamber of Commerce 1615 H Street, NW Washington, DC 20062 202-463-5682 888-249-NEWS press@uschamber.com
“Ǝvolution” Comes Full Circle At The Chelsea Film Festival
The Chelsea Film Festival, running from October 16th through October 20th, 2024, at Regal Cinemas here in Union Square, is set to host the East Coast premiere of Ǝvolution, a thought-provoking experimental micro-short film that proves big ideas can come in small packages and in perfect circles.
In just 1 minute 16 seconds, this cinematic gem by Award-Winning Director Romina Schwedler, with original music by Argentine Composer Ignacio Montoya Carlotto, explores a cycle as old as time: life leads to progress, progress leads to destruction, and destruction, well, leads back to life. But is this vicious circle unbreakable? Ǝvolution suggests the answer is yes, unless we decide to open our eyes.
Inspired by the overwhelming number of recent events that threaten human existence, Ǝvolution, possibly the shortest film in this 12th edition of the festival, plays out entirely through the symbolism of circles, cleverly illustrating —in the blink of an eye— the repeating patterns of history, and confronting viewers with the uncomfortable truth that our so-called “progress” may, in fact, be guiding us to our own ruin.Premiering at the Regal 14 Union Square, New York City, on October 18, 2024, at 11 a.m., Romina Schwedler's micro-short, featuring Leah Young with cinematography by Alan J. Carmona, will be sure to spark conversations longer than the film itself! Forcing viewers to reconsider the true meaning of evolution, not just as a biological process, but as a reflection of our collective journey as humans.
With a string of festival appearances across the globe, including CineGlobe at CERN (Switzerland/France), Oscar®... Read More