GA Court Upholds Attorney Disclosure
Posted on May 22, 2008 at 7:09 pm by Union Labeler
In a victory for workers and transparency, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia demanded the continual disclosure of money or items of value that attorneys pay to unions or union officials.
From the U.S. Department of Labor’s press release:
In this case, Warshauer v. Chao, an attorney who had been appointed as a designated legal counsel by the United Transportation Union (UTU) sued to enjoin the secretary of labor from requiring him to file a Form LM-10 (Employer Report). Designated legal counsel are lawyers recommended by a union to its members for representation in workers’ compensation, personal injury or other matters.
The release also spells out the origin of the disclosure law:
The Web site advisory followed an OLMS investigation of corruption in the UTU that resulted in the felony conviction of four union officials. These officials pled guilty to conspiring with others to violate federal mail and wire fraud statutes, among others, by using their positions of authority to solicit and collect cash payments and other things of value from attorneys doing business or seeking to do business as designated legal counsels of the UTU.
Union officials taking bribes for legal referrals? Surely you jest, U.S. Department of Labor!
Form LM-10 ensures union members have the ability to investigate whether an attorney appears on a list of preferred legal counsel because of merit, or because of a $250+ payoff.
If you wish to view union disclosure reports or collective bargaining agreements, please go here.
H/T: Mark Tapscott
