Senator Asks Shift to Avoid Ethics Peril

Hyslop, Margie, The Washington Times (Washington, DC)

Maryland state Sen. Norman R. Stone Jr. is worried he might not be moved, as he has asked, from the Judicial Proceedings Committee to avoid facing a vote on comparative negligence legislation expected to come before the committee in the coming session.

Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. said he's having difficulty finding "the right combination that works" to move his fellow Democrat, who is Senate president pro tem, to another committee and someone else onto Judicial Proceedings.

Voting on the bill would create a conflict of interest for Mr. Stone in his role as a lawyer in Peter Angelos' firm.

The Baltimore Orioles' owner also has made a name and fortune suing asbestos companies for injured workers and tobacco companies for the state.

Mr. Stone abstained from a 7-3 vote in 1998 that killed the comparative negligence measure - designed to make it easier for plaintiffs to collect for injury than current state law that prohibits awards if they contributed to their illness.

Last year, with new members, the bill did not come to a vote in the committee.

But Mr. Stone could have …

Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.com
Publication information: Article title: Senator Asks Shift to Avoid Ethics Peril. Contributors: Hyslop, Margie - Author. Newspaper title: The Washington Times (Washington, DC). Publication date: October 20, 1999. Page number: 2. © 2009 The Washington Times LLC. COPYRIGHT 1999 Gale Group.

This material is protected by copyright and, with the exception of fair use, may not be further copied, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means.