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Activism is alive in Parkland Florida. And not merely alive, but raging.

Agree with them or not; support them or not: one must be impressed by the vital energy that the survivors of the Parkland mass shooting have directed toward being the change they seek.  Merely two weeks after a mentally ill former student massacred 17 people and injured 14 others at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School survivors have mounted a massive campaign to reform gun laws in this country.  They have debated with lawmakers, with an NRA representative and others in a nationally televised Town Hall.  They have started a national fundraising movement under the hashtag "NeverAgain" in an effort to fund local efforts to remake gun laws.

I began to write this blog piece on February 9, 2018, before the most recent mass school shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The purpose was to address how the corporate sector’s assault on science, in order to weaken regulations and civil justice and in turn increase profitability, has been emboldened through a partnership with the current administration and its ties to industry. This was intended to be a discussion of the chronic injury caused to our public’s health by undermining independent scientists and government agencies charged with research and regulation of dangers that chemicals and products present to our health and environment.

Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, which offers IT solutions for physicians, hospitals, and other medical service by providing (among other things) electronic health records (“EHR”), financial management and e-prescription services was subject to a ransomware attack on January 18, 2018.  The ransomware attack prevented medical providers using the Allscripts platform from accessing patient’s records, or electronically prescribing medication – causing a severe disruption to a number of medical practices.  

On December 26, 1960 the underdog Philadelphia Eagles stunned the Green Bay Packers at Franklin Field to win the NFL championship.  I attended that game as a 1st year law student and I joined the rest of the city and celebrated the win.  Today, 57 years later, I can still vividly recall the touchdown pass from Norm Van Brocklin to Tommy McDonald that was a key part of the Eagles 17-13 victory.   And I am proud to represent Mr. McDonald, along with over 1,100 other former NFL players, in the concussion litigation.