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Reparations Lawyers Deliver Powerful Court Arguments |
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Dear Friends, On September 27, 2006, lawyers for descendants of enslaved Africans delivered powerful arguments in the landmark class action case against corporations complicit in slavery. The case is pending in the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago, IL. Plaintiffs from around the country filed the cases in March of 2002, demanding that defendants create a humanitarian trust fund to benefit the descendants of enslaved Africans. The case is entitled Farmer-Paellmann, et. al. v. Brown and Williamson, et. al. The plaintiffs' case was argued by Bruce Afran, Barbara Ratliff, and Roger Wareham. The defendants' position was argued by Owen Pell and Alan Madens. A three judge panel presided over the argument including: Richard A. Posner, Frank H. Easterbrook, and Daniel A. Manion. The three judge panel initially included African American judge Ann Claire Williams, however, after a short break, the panel returned consisting of three Caucasian judges. Critical issues addressed during the arguments included: Whether plaintiffs or their ancestors are linked to the defendants in the case? (Standing); When did plaintiffs and their ancestors first have access to information on the roles the defendants played in slavery? (Statute of Limitations/Equitable Tolling); Should a court decide the matter or should the legislature? (Political Question); Which African Americans would be the beneficiaries of the trust fund? (Standing -- Judicial Managability) Plaintiffs' counsel did an excellent job of addressing all these points exposing fascinating facts about the history of slavery and practices of the corporations. As a result, the court is allowing plaintiffs the opportunity to file additional briefs to support statements made in the oral argument regarding the critical issues. This alone is a major victory for plaintiffs! We thank you all for your ongoing support, and ask that you make a contribution to our litigation fund to help with this ground breaking work. Contributions can be made online via the Restitution Study Group's website: http://www.rsgincorp.com. Information on where to send checks are there as well. Below is the ABC television, Chicago-Tribune, and Chicago Sun-Times newspaper coverage of the oral arguments. The oral argument is available at these links: http://web6.storeandserve.com/Download/4/20060930/451849/05-3265_050.mp3 or www.myspace.com/deadria1. Thank you. Be well, Deadria C. Farmer-Paellmann, J.D., M.A. Executive Director Restitution Study Group 917-365-3007 |
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