When I began as a lawyer many years ago, the American Civil Justice System provided an even playing field where justice could be had regardless of one's wealth or station in life. That is what attracted me to the legal profession. Sadly, access to our courts has been restricted and the legal remedies available to consumers have eroded steadily over the years.

The public-interest community and its supporters will never have the financial resources to match the unrestricted wealth available to corporate interests. What the public-interest community does have though is human capital. An organization called €Public Citizen€ is uniquely able to shine a light on abuses of corporate power in a way that informs, empowers, and mobilizes the voting public. When citizens realize that their own rights are a stake, they take action. I cannot tell you how many times the most ardent hardline defense attorney has called me to say: €My mother just lost her life savings in an investment scam; can you help her?€ or €My father just died as a result of an accident or medical malpractice; can you help us?€

The sad fact is this: because of abusive and unconstitutional arbitration clauses that corporations seek to use as a shield against accountability or the anti-consumer medical malpractice act it may be impossible to provide justice. Folks need to realize that their own liberties and rights hang in the balance; the organization known as €Public Citizen€ can make them aware of this reality.

Here is the opening description on the About Us page of the Public Citizen website, http://www.citizen.org/Page.aspx?pid=2306, where it states €Public Citizen serves as the people's voice in the nation's capital. Since our founding in 1971, we have delved into an array of areas, but our work on each issue shares an overarching goal: To ensure that all citizens are represented in the halls of power.€

To learn more about this public-interest organization, go to http://www.citizen.org. Make special note of the fact that this organization is self-funded through €foundation grants, publication sales and support from its 100,000 current members.€ Public Citizen does NOT accept any money from the government or corporate interests.

The writer of this article is Richard D. Schuler. He is a Partner and founding Shareholder of Schuler, Halvorson, Weisser & Zoeller, P.A., one of the longest-tenured personal injury attorney firms in West Palm Beach. He is also a Board Certified Civil Trial Attorney and Past President of the Palm Beach County Bar Association.

Schuler, Halvorson, Weisser & Zoeller, P.A. has 3 locations, including its main location at 1615 Forum Place, Suite 4D in West Palm Beach, FL 33401. If you, a friend or family member needs a lawyer you can trust in a case of a car accident, wrongful death, medical malpractice, nursing home and ALF abuse, airplane accident, truck accident, premises liability, motorcycle accident, boating accident, personal injury, products liability, slip and fall, toxic/mass tort litigation, insurance litigation or negligent security, contact this firm. You can find them on the web at http://www.shw-law.com, call them at (561) 689-8180 or email them directly at admin@shw-law.com.