Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue got an substantial influx of political contributions from trial lawyers in June as she was considering whether to veto a medical malpractice bill making its way through the Republican legislature.
Between January and May 31, Perdue received $139,441 in campaign contributions from lawyers, according to her campaign report for the first six months of the year that was filed with the State Board of Elections.
But in June, lawyers donated $151,209 into her campaign as it became clear the medical malpractice bill was likely to pass, according to campaign records. She vetoed the bill on June 24th, but the legislature over rode her veto July 25th.
A significant amount of the money came from trial attorneys who were opposed to the cap on “non economic” damages of $500,000 in most instances.
Among the June contributors to Perdue were attorneys Bob Bollinger of Charlotte ($1,000), Brian Peterson of Asheville($500), Celeste Harris of Winston-Salem ($1,000), Charles Mast of Smithfield ($1,000) Chuck Monnett III of Charlotte ($1,000) Charles Hardee of Greenville ($1,000) Christopher Roberts of Greenville ($1,000) and Gina Cammarano of Raleigh ($2,500.)
Comments
Someone has to stand up for
August 9, 2011 - 12:32pm — CharlottelawyerSomeone has to stand up for the people of this state. The Republicans in the General Assemby certainly are not. They were funded by big corporations and insurance carriers and other rich entities, and they set about removing the rights of regular citizens in order to increase the profits of their donors. You can call us "ambulance chasers" if you want, but all you are doing is showing your own ignorance of what we do, and of what is really going on down in Raleigh. If you are voting Republican, and you work for a living, then you are voting against your own self-interests. The Trial Lawyers of NC are standing up for regular citizens, and regular working people, against corporate overreaching. Instead of insulting us, you should be thanking us for standing up for your rights.
because...
August 9, 2011 - 10:11am — ncprogressive81...because it will take them a while longer to track the millions from the Koch brothers and other special interests that wrote the bill in the first place ;) want proof? See EVERY OTHER GOP-CONTROLLED LEGISLATURE's bill written by ALEC and rubber-stamped by all of them.
Paging Bob Hall
August 8, 2011 - 2:58pm — Heels03Why hasn't Bob Hall and his cronies at Democracy NC jumped all over this?
Poor investment to back Bev
August 8, 2011 - 9:59am — concerned5322% of her gross contributions came from ambulance chasers. Despite this, she didn't have the political strength to help them. I wonder what percentages of her contributions came from the unions, the Cherokee and those that have been fined in the past for campaign transgressions. Given this track record, it's going to be increasingly difficult to pay back her $900k in loans, cover her legal fees related to the federal investigation of her campaign and still pay for all of her high priced political consultants (oh I forgot, the taxpayers are covering that expense).
I'm SHOCKED!
August 8, 2011 - 9:52am — AgentPierceI'm SHOCKED!!! Who'd a thought this would happen ?