A dollar here, a dollar there!

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From the Seattle Times (http://www.seattletimes.com/news/local/html98/cuts_19991106.html):

Judges vote to end arbitration program because of Initiative 695

by Seattle Times staff

Because of Initiative 695 cutbacks, King County Superior Court judges agreed to end a 20-year-old arbitration program that diverted 2,800 cases a year from the court system.

Judges voted after the election this week to cut the program on Dec. 30, but their decision still needs approval of the Metropolitan King County Council.

By reducing vehicle-license fees to $30, I-695 will trim $4 million to $6 million a year from the county's $347 million criminal-justice budget.

Ending the arbitration program would save $440,000 a year, largely through fees paid to private attorneys who were hired to settle small civil cases outside the court system. Its two staffers will be reassigned.

The program was adopted 20 years ago to ease court backlogs that have since diminished. But cutting it will increase the court burden.

Last year 2,800 of the 14,000 civil cases in the court were referred to arbitration. Of those about 1,500 were settled through arbitration, said Mike Planet, Superior Court administrator.

$440,000/1500 cases = $293/case. Whatever happened to the LOSER paying court fees? Why must the taxpayer subsidize every dispute to the tune of almost $300?

-- Craig Carson (craigcar@crosswinds.net), November 08, 1999

Answers

How about the losing LAWYER pay the court fees. A lot fewer court cases, I'm sure.

-- zowie (zowie@hotmail.com), November 08, 1999.

Absolutely, the loser should pay the court fees! These burdening costs to the taxpayers are just another example of what's wrong. Criminals should be put on "work farms" to contribute to the cost of feeding and housing them also. Years ago they used to do this until the bleeding heart liberals decided the criminals had rights and could lay in their bunk and watch tv and couldn't be insulted by working for their dinner.

-- sharon ware (ware99@wa.freei.net), November 09, 1999.

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