First, let me say that I am not an attorney, but I am going to offer some
legal advice anyway. I would urge you all to NOT use this listserv or any
other means of communication to discuss a boycott of any supplier.
Organized boycotting within an industry is against the law even if the
suppliers in question are doing really bad things. It is “anti-competitive”
and “restraint of trade.” Anyone who participates in the discussion about
organizing a boycott is equally liable, even if all you do is listen to the
conversation. None of us would look good in wide, vertical stripes.
Bob
Robert T. Van Hook, CAE
Executive Director
American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association
1650 King Street, Suite 500
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703/836-7116
Fax: 703/836-0838
STMP: rvanhook@aopanet.org
URL: http://www.aopanet.org
—–Original Message—–
From: Judy Crawford [mailto:Leg411@AOL.COM]
Sent: Friday, February 11, 2000 10:43 PM
To: OANDP-L@LISTS.UFL.EDU
Subject: (no subject)
Hello,
Just wondering if anyone else is as tired as I am of reps and manufacturers
selling direct to Doctors and Hospitals, or fitting the patients themselves
as unlicensed and uncertified orthotists. Many of you have alot of education
and experience that these people do not have. Let’s post these vendors
names
and we can fight this as a group by banding together and by not supporting
these companies. We can hit them where it hurts, their wallets.
I was just informed that a major supplier is going after insurance contracts
which will then take a spot away from the a local O&P business. They are
many companies doing this and we as a profession need to stand together and
prevent our patients from potential injury.
The larger your company, the more it will affect you, and the larger your
company, the more pull you have with your vendors. So please make your
phone
call or write e-mails or letters to your vendors and express your
disapproval
of their practices and your intent to look for other suppliers who are not
competing against you. Even if you’re an independent, your voice will count
in numbers so speak your mind.
If you would e-mail me the list of any companies that you know are involved
in this practice, I will post those names on this list server for everyone’s
information.
Thank you for your time,
Scott Saunders, CP
Orlando, Florida
