Jackson Free Press

This (felony indictments) is a conspiracy against Mayor Melton, which was born from Washington, D.C. This a political plot to overthrow what 75 percent of the voters voted for. This is also a plot organized by the Harvey Johnson forces to throw Melton out of office. The congressmen rob the bank, Jim Hood provided the getaway car, and Faye Peterson was at the wheel. Furthermore, while Attorney Dennis Sweet is trying to prosecute Mayor Melton in civil court, he needs to be worrying about the money he made from the phen-fen case. He filled his pockets, and the poor took the fall in the federal pen. Melton is in the middle of a drug war, and someone has to fight it.
— John Taylor, Jackson

The Future of Jackson

I really like the article about all the proposed development around the city ("Big City, Bright Future, Sept. 20-27, 2006). It shows that there is economic progress and development trying to be made in Jackson. So often, the only headlines that are published about the capital city are crime related. It's really refreshing to see something positive written about the future of Jackson. Keep up the good work, JFP.
— Maurice McInnis, Jackson

Visionary Anger

Mississippi's tort-reform laws are paying off for proponents of tort reform. The state's medical insurance provider has announced it is again lowering malpractice insurance rates. This is good news for doctors and good news for insurance companies, but a price is being paid for their good fortune.

The cap on non-economic damages is touted as the crown jewel of tort reform. So it is for proponents of tort reform, but that jewel does not glitter for medical malpractice victims.

The elderly, children and stay-at-home parents who are victims of medical malpractice find the path to justice nonexistent. The cap imposed by Mississippi legislators makes it virtually impossible for victims who have no income to find a lawyer to represent them because doing so is financially unfeasible.

Then there is that pesky problem presented by the Constitution. Victims should have the right to have the amount of compensation for their injury determined by a jury of their peers.

Tort reformers are smug. I am angry. Adrienne Rich wrote of her visionary anger that cleansed her sight. Everyone who is outraged that insurance companies and doctors have been appeased at the expense of victims of medical malpractice should cleanse their sight with visionary anger and work to assure that the law that placed a cap on non-economic damages is repealed.
— Jane Marshall, Dover, Tenn.