Woman Can't Sue Halliburton Over Rape Because Of Cheney Policy

Mother Jones:

On Wednesday, Jamie Leigh Jones told a House Judiciary Committee her now-famous story about having been allegedly drugged and gang-raped two years ago by several coworkers shortly after arriving in Iraq as a contractor for KBR, an engineering and construction firm contracted with the military to provide logistical support to the troops. Jones' story has prompted widespread outrage, partly because the Justice Department and the military failed to prosecute her attackers, but also because it appears that Jones can't sue KBR for placing her in harm's way.

When Jones went to work for KBR in Texas, and later for its subsidiary, Overseas Administrative Services, she signed contracts containing mandatory binding arbitration clauses, which required her to give up her right to sue the companies and any right to a jury trial. Instead, the contracts forced Jones to press her case through private arbitration, which she did in 2006. In that forum, the company that allegedly wronged her pays the arbitrator who is hearing the case. For that she can thank Dick Cheney.

Read the whole story: Mother Jones

Comments

[researcher]

it is called fascism folks and no country deserves it more that we americans.

we americans want capitalism and even unchecked capitalism then be ready for fascism to favor the corporate elite.

brainwashing works americans were sold a bill of good on capitalism now must they live with the results of the brainwashing.

bet this gal that was gangraped blames cheney rather than the real culprit the american voter.

oh the pitfalls of imperialism? hope the oil was worth it?

[rchwel]

Is it any wonder that the repubs and big business have painted a trial lawyer like John Edwards a demon ? As an injured party ask yourself would you trust the big business arbitration board or have Edwards fighting for you ?

[Maxbyte]

Corporate America has been increasingly inserting clauses into contracts with consultants and even employees that require them to forfeit basic constitutional rights. It is a practice that is clearly at odds with the Constitution, and it needs to be reviewed by the Supreme Court.

It is unconscionable that any corporation, retailer, or organization be permitted to require a consultant or other contractor to waive their right to sue a company for negligence, criminal acts, or anything else that reasonable people would regard as non-frivolous.

We all have a set of basic rights that should never be negotiable. For members of the armed services, UCMJ parallels most Constitutional rights, but preempts the Constitution for treasonous acts and other national security violations. But not even UCMJ condones rape or other attacks on other members of the military or on civilians of any nation.

In this particular instance, a rape victim should NEVER be limited to arbitration. And those who committed the crime... with full knowledge that they could do as they please without consequences... should be hung. Twice.

The only difference between this administration and any other terrorist-run government is that this administration was preceded by 200+ years of administrations that generally shaped and defined America as a law-abiding and humane nation. Sadly, that permitted the current bunch of misanthropes to freely rape, pillage, and kill without consequences long enough to get a second term.

[WilliePilgrim]

While I admit to being an athiest more or less, I somehow find some in-explicable comfort in a sense of cosmic justice and like to imagine that, even though the dish be served cold, this president of vice is served and served but good.

[owiseone]

Cheney Policy: Nobody has rights but Dick Cheney; he has dibs on torture rights, bombing rights, rape rights, taxing rights, etc.

His motto to Congress which is supposed to be protecting US citizens: "Get Over It".

[bija]

This makes me sick! When will we demand accountability from these people? Our tax dollars are being stolen.

[1man1voicenovote]

It's a Horrible Life in POTUSville.

[getoffmedz]

Darth enjoys rape.

heh

[Birdman]

Where is the state labor board? This certainly seems to me to be a direct violation of labor laws, by essentially allowing no recourse to an employee other then a kangaroo court that is not even adminstered by a judge, but a paid arbitrator that is on the company's payroll. Stacked is not the word for this, illegal comes to mind.

[LorettaSingbiel]

"Employees don't fare very well in arbitration. It's not a level playing field. It's all set up to make sure the employer wins."

"It's not too hard to see why Halliburton and KBR want to keep Jaime Leigh Jones in arbitration. If the allegations she has made are true, and her lawyers can prove it, her case could be worth many millions of dollars in a jury trial."

But "Jones is covered by the Halliburton dispute-resolution program, which was implemented when Cheney was Halliburton's CEO. The system bears the markings of Cheney's obsession with secrecy and executive power."

In another case, "Cheney was served with a subpoena for documents. Rather than turn over the documents, however, Halliburton shredded them. Cheney reportedly called the commission and basically told them to fuck off."

And Mr. Fuck-off Cheney (who aids & abets the RAPE of women, the MURDER of Iraqi citizens) faithfully attends Church in his Sunday finest?

Give me that old-time religion!!!

Stay safe, healthy and happy,
Love, Loretta

[kfdan]

Under no circumstances should any employment contract clause be honored when criminal acts occur no matter who, what, where, when and how!

[nagamaki]

"The provision of the Constitution giving the war-making power to Congress was dictated, as I understand it, by the following reasons. Kings had always been involving and impoverishing their people in wars, pretending generally, if not always, that the good of the people was the object. This, our Convention understood to be the most oppressive of all Kingly oppressions; and they resolved to so frame the Constitution that no one man should hold the power of bringing this oppression upon us."
Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865)

Shame on all those, donkeys and elephants alike, that have allowed through the years the corruption of for profit corporate lobbyist dollars to evolve like a scurge inside the very walls of our government, as to carry bastards like Bush and Cheney to the throne of our democracy to reek their havoc upon the Constitution!
I hope that Jamie Leigh Jones lives to see the day that Cheney's constitutional rights get taken away in a jail cell for crimes against her and this country. No one, but no one has the right to take away by business contract law another persons constitutional rights. No, no, not in this country you MFing neocon assholes!
Godamn donkeys wake the F up, Edwards is right, it's the lobbyists stupid!

[xrepublican]

But look at what the Halliburton stock in her 401K is worth!

Mandatory 'arbitration' when criminal acts have occurred....... wow, is anyone going to be surprised how that is going to turn out?

[darker]

Shame was replaced by GREED, OPPORTUNISM, CORRUPTION, LYING, CHEATING, STEALING, KILLING.
It's the Republican WAY.

[darker]

It's another big "f*ck you!" from Cheney,
the ex-CEO of Halliburton. H. moved from Houston Tx. to DUBAI so it can take over Middle East OIL FIELDS. Mission accomplished, Cheney!