New life for lawsuit on grants to businesses | Tonawanda News

N.Y. appellate court grants reprieve to "Mother of All Lawsuits" filed by TEA Party activist James Ostrowski in 2008 challenging constitutionality of corporate welfare.

Point VFD alleges Ohio contractor failed to complete insulation job

An Ohio contractor is named as a defendant in a breach of contract suit filed by a Mason County volunteer fire department for failing to insulate one of its buildings.

On Sept. 12, the Point Pleasant Volunteer Fire Department filed a lawsuit against Ohio Valley Plastering in Mason Circuit Court. In their complaint and suit, filed with the assistance of Matt Clark, with the Point Pleasant law firm of Kayser, Clark and Layne, PPFVD alleges OVP left incomplete an insulation job for which it was hired.

According to court records, PPVFD alleges it entered into a written contract with OVP, which is located in Patriot, Ohio, and owned by Paul R. McCormick, on June 16 "to furnish all labor and materials in application of an Exterior Insulation and Finish System" to the its building on Jackson Avenue. The contract held OVP responsible for exterior of the building except caulking.

For more on this story, go to The West Virginia Record

Putting a halt to corporate welfare

Albany, N.Y. - Yesterday, Buffalo attorney and self-proclaimed "anti-politician" James Ostrowski filed suit in the Albany Supreme Court on behalf of 47 taxpayers to halt the state's practice of awarding over $1 billion in "economic development" grants to private corporations. The basis for the suit is an 1846 amendment to the state constitution banning the government from bestowing "gifts" to private entities.

According to Ostrowski, the 1846 amendment was passed when speculators selling politicians on the benefits of "internal improvements" left taxpayers holding the bag. Though a proposed 1967 amendment to overturn the 1846 amendment was defeated by a 3-to-1 margin, "state officials have acted as though the 1967 amendment had become law."

A copy of "The Mother of All Lawsuits," may be found on Ostrowski's blog.

Also, Ostrowski announced his intentions to file similar suits in all 50 states. Though the late-Larry Harless attempted with limited success to challenge the $200 million in economic development grants then-Gov. Bob Wise doled out in 2002, given that two new justices will be elected to the Supreme Court in November the timing may be right for a second, more principled legal challenge.

Anyone wanting to assist Mr. Ostrowski in this endeavor may contact him via telephone at (716) 435-8918 or e-mail at jameso@apollo3.com.