The California car accident lawyers at BISNAR | CHASE have always stood up for the rights of our clients, especially against insurance companies that often try to shortchange or stonewall injured victims claiming damages and loss. I heard last week that our friends at Consumer Watchdog are launching a campaign against CBS Outdoor advertising company's decision to take down Consumer Watchdog's billboard on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles warning the public not to trust Mercury Insurance.

What's More Offensive?

This issue even drew the attention of Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez, who rightly questions in his column: "What's more offensive?" There's Consumer Watchdog's billboard warning consumers about Mercury Insurance. And then there was a large, 10-story billboard just a few blocks away advertising Absolut Mango. Now, Consumer Watchdog's billboard is gone and the vodka company's towering rendition of an essential part of the female anatomy, still stands. So Lopez asks which image is more obscene or offensive -- the campaign against Mercury or the sky-high rendition of a vagina? Consumer Watchdog's attorneys have demanded the restoration of the billboard because CBS Outdoor took the billboard down, mid-contract.

Our Right to Free Speech

This is not just a consumer rights issue. It's a free speech and First Amendment issue. Everyone deserves their right to free speech. I understand Mercury officials didn't like the billboard message. I support their right to say so. But I also support Consumer Watchdog's right to erect that billboard warning victims who have suffered personal injury or property loss against a certain insurance company.

What I don't understand is CBS Outdoor's apparent caving into whatever Mercury Insurance had to say to get that billboard taken down. CBS took down the billboard before the time expired on their paid ad. That sounds like censorship and breach of contract to me. It would seem to an observer of this issue that CBS Outdoor is taking sides. Also, according to Steve Lopez, neither CBS Outdoor nor Mercury Insurance would talk to him about their side of the story. That sure smells fishy to me.

I urge CBS Outdoor to step up, honor their contract and put up the billboard until the end of the contract period. That would certainly be the right thing to do. For more information about Consumer Watchdog's "Don't Trust Mercury" campaign, please visit this Web site (http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/insurance/donttrustmercury/).

The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our source for the facts is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, please contact us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. Most of the best law firms will provide accident victims a free consultation.

We cannot fully inform any party or family member about their rights, options or the economic viability of any claim for compensation without a full investigation and consultation. We will not be conducting an investigation into this matter unless we are retained by a party. We will provide a free, confidential consultation to any, not at fault, person named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.

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