The link:

http://www.pathfinder.com/AllPolitics/Latest/story.cgi/1999Jun09/98

{snip}

WASHINGTON (AP) The Senate is grappling with a Y2K litigation bill that business groups say could save them from billions of dollars in lawsuits but the Clinton administration says undermines defendant rights and faces a veto.

The bill, which has passed the House in a different version, aims to stop frivolous lawsuits by people trying to take advantage of computer breakdowns on Jan. 1, 2000, by encouraging mediation and giving companies 90 days to fix computer problems before they can be taken to court.

{end snip}

On the surface it seems like Clinton is making the right choice, but can it be? I'm not sure about the 90 days thing but I know that if one of my software vendors sold me a bad program and I wanted to sue them for damages (especially on behalf of my clientelle) then how is 90 days going to help? Even if the vendors do rectify their mistake won't I still be three months behind on what could be mission critical programs? I wouldn't want to try and explain that to my customers...

Am I misreading the article somehow? Maybe Flint and Milne can duke it out over this one if it's BB interest.

-- (workathome@atl.ga), June 09, 1999

Answers

The original intent of the legislation was to do some of the following:

(1) Minimize the expected rush of Y2K lawsuits. If this doesn't happen, the courts could get clogged to the point of virtual stoppage. If there are so many suits that cases are not heard for 10-12 years (not unlikely), then the companies will be out of business, anyway!

(2) Capping lawyer fees at a mere $1,000/hour. This could cut legal costs considerably...and might cause some attorneys to switch to a cheaper brand of adult beverage.

(3) Forcing companies to wait 90 days encourages preparedness and contingency planning instead of lawsuits.

(4) Forcing companies to try to fix the problem rather than suing is also realistic.

Sorry, but I do support the legislation. Doubt that it will get by without a veto, though. But I do have great hope for a similar bill to be passed early next year...

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), June 09, 1999.