Defend Against Trespassing Charges By Anthem

Anthem Sends A Message To All Their Customers With Trial:

“If you Question Our Business Practices, There Will Be Consequences.”

Enclosed: Video Footage of the Arrest, also available online at www.youtube.com/vopvideo

Richmond, VA – At a time when health insurance industry malfeasance is a daily focus of the evening news, Anthem, a WellPoint subsidiary, has boldly decided to put their own customer on trial for asking to speak to a representative about their rates. On Tuesday, September 22, 2009, Joe Szakos, executive director of the Virginia Organizing Project, will stand trial to defend against trespassing charges brought on by Anthem after visiting their headquarters in July to question his organization’s health insurance premium increases.
Szakos was charged with trespassing on Anthem’s property in Richmond on July 24, 2009 when he and three Virginia Organizing Project board members attempted to meet with Anthem officials to discuss their concerns about a 14.1 percent insurance premium increase. Anthem officials locked the front door to their corporate headquarters when the group approached the building, and called police to have Szakos arrested.
The Virginia Organizing Project was also questioning Anthem for using their premiums for lobbying against reform instead of paying health care claims. Anthem and its parent company WellPoint have spent millions lobbying against a public health insurance option, including soliciting their own costumers to speak out against reform.
Szakos’s legal defense team has subpoenaed Anthem’s CEO, C. Burke King, and director of public relations, Scott Golden, to appear in court on Tuesday.
The Virginia Organizing Project will be holding a press conference prior to the trial where community members will share their own Anthem horror stories and call for their members of Congress to take action on health care reform.
WHO: The Virginia Organizing Project
WHAT: “Big Insurance: Sick Of It” Press Conference and Trial of Joe Szakos (trespassing charge)
WHEN: September 22, 2009
10 a.m. Press Conference
11 a.m. Trial
WHERE: Henrico General District Court, 4301 East Parham Road, Henrico, VA 23273-0775

The Virginia Organizing Project is a statewide, multi-issue grassroots organization committed to challenging injustice by empowering people in local communities to address issues that affect the quality of their lives.
www.virginia-organizing.org