The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-12-12
NOVEL ENTERPRISE.
Company Chartered to Fight
Corporations in Court.

The Claim Adjustment company, dam
age suit promoters, is the latest topic
of discussion in federal court circles. 1t
is an incorporated company, organized
for the purpose of promoting damage
suits against corporations. It's head
quarters are at Kansas City.
The facts concerning the organization
have just been brought to light in the
damage suit of Benjamin Nieman
against the Metropolitan Street Rail-
way company, of Kansas City. which
IS now on hearing in the federal court
The matter came up on a motion filed
by the defendant to require the plain
tiff to give security for costs in the
case. Mr.. Nieman had filed a poverty
affidavit, stating that he had no money
with Which to pay costs and could not
give security.
Frank Hagerman, attorney for the
street Railway company, set up the
claim that Nieman was backed in his
suit by the Claim Adjustment company
which was abundantly able to give all
the security for costs required
1t was alleged that the Claim Adjust
ment company was a chartered Organi-
cation which went around and hunted
up damage suits, making contracts to
bring them and furnish all the evidence
and pay the costs for half of the dam
ages collected. NJ. Freliegh was said to
be the secretary of the organization.
and it is claimed that a number of his
relatives are associated with him in it.
Mr.. Hagerman claimed that the COM
n
to prosecute his claim.
Bring on your proof said Judge
Hook.
1r.Freliegh himself. was placed on the
stand, and While he admitted that he
was secretary of such an organization,
he denied that the company had any
contract with Mr.. Nieman to prosecute
his claim. He said, however, that they
were to assist T. P. Anderson. attorney
for the plaintiff, in the prosecution of
the case, but he denied that they had
paid the fare of witnesses from Kansas
City to Topeka to testify in the suit.
Mr.. Nieman was then placed on the
stand. He said that a representative
of the Claim Adjustment company had
come to him while he was still in the
hospital suffering from injuries he had
received and for which it was proposed
to bring damages against the Street
Railway company. and made a contract
with him to bring the damage suit. This
contract was afterwards declared off,
however, and another one was made
with T. p. Anderson, as attorney for
the plaintiff.
Mr.. Anderson was next placed on the
stand to cOrrOborate what Mr.. Nieman
had said While he was still testifying
Judge Hook remarked.
The plaintiff will put up security for
costs" and the court required a de-
pOsit of $500 to be made
It is said that T. P. Anderson was
formerly attorney for the organization
but that J. K CubbisOn, former speak
er pro tenn of the house of representa-
uves. is now its legal representative
The method of procedure of the COM
pany is to hunt up actions for damages
and make contracts with the DANA ged
parties to bring the actions for half the
amount recovered. Then an effort is
made to settle the matter out of court
but if this is not successful a contract
is made with an attorney to bring the
suit on contingent fee.
Mr.. -Nieman sues the Metropolitan
Street Railway company for S25 900
damages for injuries which he sustain
ed in a fail. for which he holds the
Street Railway COMPANY liable.