physician » Organizations http://www.physician.com Physician - Healthy site Sun, 05 Sep 2010 13:00:31 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 The Institute for Justice: “We handle the David vs. Goliath of cases, pro bono.” http://www.physician.com/institute-for-justice.html http://www.physician.com/institute-for-justice.html#comments Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:24:40 +0000 admin http://www.physician.com/?p=401

Merry Band of Litigators
Merry Band of Litigators
ij.org

ij.org

The self-proclaimed ‘Merry Band of Litigators’ at the Institute for Justice, a non-profit, pro bono civil liberties law firm, ensures that the basic rights of everyday individuals go unhampered.  Their cases typically involve people’s basic constitutional rights being attacked when special interest groups team up with the government to pass laws that help themselves at the expense of everyone else.
All too often, they are the only law firm in the country that is willing to fight against an ever-tightening government choke-hold on the individual pursuit of the American Dream. Founded in 1991, IJ has become the epitome of what a civil liberties law firm should be, and has been frequently featured in national media outlets such as 60 Minutes and 20/20. Our Director of Marketing, Michael Foti, spoke with Bob Ewing of the Institute for Justice to learn about how the Institute has been standing up for the little guys.

 Eminent Domain
In 1993, Donald Trump sought to expand his property holdings around his Atlantic City hotel and casino to build a parking lot designed for limousines. However, when the owners of three lots decided to hold out, the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, a state agency, condemned the properties and subject them to eminent domain. It took five years of intense litigation for the Institute for Justice to have the ruling overturned in state Superior Court.
“…We have been able to set a precedent that this condemnation was not for a public purpose,” said Senior Attorney Dana Berliner after hearing the decision. “…It will be a revolution in condemnation law and a very important restraint on the ability of government to take private property and hand it over to other private parties.”
IJ took up this case a mere two years into their founding, a time when their funding was but a fraction of what it is now, yet they succeeded.  When it was all over, an elderly widow beat Donald Trump in court to save her house from the bulldozers.  Score one for the little guys.
IJ is now the nation’s premier champion for property rights.  The Institute has successfully battled eminent domain abuse around the country, taking the issue to the highest courts in the land, including the infamous 2005 U.S. Supreme Court case Kelo v. City of New London.
Here is the story of Susette Kelo, and how her fight to save her little pink house changed a nation:
http://www.ij.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2506&Itemid=208
Since the Kelo ruling, 43 states have changed their eminent domain laws to provide greater protection for private property.
The Case of The Budding Entrepreneur
They were seven perfectly fine floral displays. Most anyone would have bought them. But the Louisiana Horticulture Commission forced would-be florist Sandy Meadows to throw them out or be fined $250.
That’s because in Louisiana it is illegal to sell and arrange flowers without permission from the government. Aspiring florists must pass a subjective licensing exam that is graded by existing florists, who have a direct incentive to keep new competitors from entering the market.
“Far from helping consumers, regulations like Louisiana’s stifle growth and innovation…” said Clark Neily, an Institute for Justice senior attorney.
That’s why Sandy Meadows teamed up with the Institute for Justice.
The lawsuit sought to vindicate the plaintiff’s right to economic liberty. The case was declared ‘moot’ following the destruction and chaos left in Hurricane Katrina’s path. However, it brought the anti-competitive and anti-consumer nature of the state’s florist licensing law to national attention.
It’s just another example of how the IJ is helping bring equality to hardworking, everyday Americans. For free.
African hairbraiders, taxi drivers, interior designers and numerous other entrepreneurs across the country have teamed up with the Institute for Justice to successfully defend their constitutional right to earn honest living.
Consider the ongoing case of Erroll Tyler.  His dream is to open a cutting-edge amphibious vehicle tour service in Cambridge. Erroll is certified by the state and has cut through miles of red tape to open his business.  But, even though his vehicles won’t stop in Boston, the city insists that he needs a special ’sightseeing’ license.  Were he in business now, Erroll would face fines and a month in jail if his passengers were caught looking out the window.   In a crueler twist, officials will not even consider granting Erroll the license.  Watch IJ’s powerful 3-minute video explanation of the case here:   http://www.ij.org/video/errolltyler
As IJ Senior Attorney Jeff Rowes puts it, “It should not take seven years and a team of lawyers to open a small business.”
Support The Cause
The Institute for Justice spends $0.79 of every $1.00 on litigation. Fund raising accounts for only 10 cents and administration accounts for 11 cents.  That’s why IJ has been awarded Charity Navigator’s coveted four-star rating every year since the ratings came out!
Since IJ is nonprofit, they rely completely on donors.  They have a very diverse donor base, with individual donors that cross the political spectrum.  Organizations as diverse as the liberal Annie E. Casey Foundation and Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation to the conservative Bradley Foundation also provide the Institute with support.
Help this remarkable organization fight on behalf of: economic liberty, free speech, school choice, and private property rights.  Donate to the Institute for Justice and help set new standards and precedents for a better America.
Visit the IJ site at www.ij.org
Tim Du
Physician Network Writer
]]> http://www.physician.com/institute-for-justice.html/feed 0 ASA Safe and Sound Campaign http://www.physician.com/asa-safe-and-sound-campaign.html http://www.physician.com/asa-safe-and-sound-campaign.html#comments Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:51:32 +0000 admin http://www.physician.com/?p=376 A Healthy Life is a Happy Life

A Healthy Life is a Happy Life

Across the country, children as well as adults living with autism are going about living their lives; they have greater access to opportunities to learn, work, and enjoy recreational activities. In order to further promote the safe practice of such leisurely activities, the Autism Society of America has launched the Safe and Sound Campaign, in 2005, to develop strategies and information that is beneficial to individuals with ASD, their families, and their health care providers.

The focal point in the Safe and Sound Campaign is working with law enforcement professionals and first responders in order to address some of the conflicts that may arise during an emergency situation. In order to avoid any unfortunate incidents, the ASA has created an emergency decal that can be affixed to your front door or automobile window to alert first responders of autistic persons. In addition, they also have a Personal Information Record available for primary caregivers that also includes tips for emergency responders.

You can purchase the Safe and Sound emergency decals from the ASA online store.

Tim Du
Physician Network Writer

]]> http://www.physician.com/asa-safe-and-sound-campaign.html/feed 0 The Autism Society of America’s Environmental Health Project http://www.physician.com/autism-society.html http://www.physician.com/autism-society.html#comments Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:44:18 +0000 admin http://www.physician.com/?p=371 Autism Children

Autism Children

http://www.autism-society.org

autism-society.org

Although autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is traditionally seen as a genetically-based, neurological and life-long condition, recent studies have put the incidence of ASD at an alarming rate of 1 in 150 births, and as a result there has been an increase in attention given to possible environmental factors as culprits for the symptoms known as ASD.

The increase in environmental health concerns stretches far beyond ASD. The effects of environmental factors and toxicity have been widely discussed and are well-established as causes for numerous disabling conditions. However, with ASD in particular, research has shown that the majority of sufferers have a reduced ability to rid their bodies of heavy metals and toxins, thus leading to even more aggravated symptoms.

Although the Autism Society’s Environmental Health Project is relatively young, having been founded in 2006, it nevertheless benefits a great deal from being part of the oldest grassroots autism organization in the country. In addition, ASA founder, Dr. Bernard Rimland, has been on the forefront of this area for decades and ASA’s numerous conventions, publications, and public policy initiatives have always pushed for further research in the matter. The Environmental Health Project has arrived in a timely manner; it’s arrival coincides with increasing global concerns about the effect of environmental toxins across the board.

Visit the ASA website for more in-depth information regarding the Environmental Health Project.

Will Lee
Physician Network Writer

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