Masonry Magazine April 1986 Page. 45
New Tort Reform Group
Takes Swift Action
The newly organized American Tort Reform Association is already making waves. Its president, Jim Coyne, who also is executive vice president of the American Consulting Engineers Council, has challenged the Ralph Nader-supported National Insurance Consumers Organization for its stand on the liability crisis which, he says, "totally ignores the real cause of the crisis-litigation pollution."
Liability problems are so deeply ingrained that they will take years to resolve, Coyne points out, adding: "It's unfair for Nader to try to make the insurance industry a scapegoat when the real problem lies with his friends, the trial lawyers."
"That's as simplistic as asserting that gas stations created the energy crisis in 1973," Coyne insists. "The public is justifiably outraged, and their common sense tells them that it's the inefficient civil trial system, burgeoning lawyers' contingency fees and indiscriminate 'deep pocket' suits, leveled at anyone with the means to pay, that are fueling this litigation explosion."
Charter members of ATRA are 24 organizations representing some 960,000 business, professional and public entities. Benjamin Civiletti has been named ATRA's general counsel.
Pittsburgh Corning in
Plant Modernization
Pittsburgh Corning Corp. cites continuing popularity and a steadily rising demand for PC GlassBlock products as the primary reasons for the second modernization within five years of its pressed glass manufacturing facilities at the Port Allegany, Pa., plant.
"Architectural and residential demands for PC GlassBlock have been very strong," said Jon G. Chase, vice president/sales & marketing. "As the only U.S. manufacturer of glass block, we intend to satisfy those requirements." Chase said he anticipates worldwide PC GlassBlock sales and distribution.
Masonry Industry in
St. Louis Donates to
AIA Scholarship Fund
The St. Louis masonry industry displayed its support for the education of architectural students by recently contributing $2,500 to the St. Louis Chapter/American Institute of Architects Scholarship Fund.
The contribution represents participation by the Mason Contractors Association of St. Louis, the Masonry Institute of St. Louis, and Bricklayers Local #1 of Missouri.
Eight Michigan Buildings
Win M Awards for Design
Eight Michigan building projects and their architects were recently recognized for masonry design excellence in the 11th annual M Awards program sponsored by the Masonry Institute of Michigan. The projects and their architects receiving cast bronze M Award plaques were:
* Atrium Office Center, Lansing. Hobbs Black Associates, architect.
* Campau Square Plaza Building. Grand Rapids, WBDC, Inc., architect.
* Discovery Center, Ann Arbor, Hobbs Black Associates, Inc., architect.
* Ideation Building. Ann Arbor. Holman, Meneghini & Overhiser, architect.
* Northwestern Financial Center. Farmington Hills. Kenneth Neumann/Robert Greager & Associates, architect.
* St. Joseph Sesquicentennial Pavilion, Lake Bluff Park, St. Joseph. Allegretti Architects.
* Tappan Hall Addition & Renovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Luckenbach/Ziegelman & Partners, architect.
* Thal residence. Birmingham. Luckenbach/Ziegelman & Partners, architect.
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