Student Testifies

A third-year law student gave expert testimony Tuesday before a House of Representatives subcommittee on industrial toxic pollution.

The student, Stephen M. Soble, explained a model statute he authored last year to the House Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Finance.

"It was sort of like law school," Soble said Wednesday, adding, "I was really getting grilled. But I enjoyed it."

The bill, introduced last October in the House by Rep. William M. Brodhead (DMich.) would create federal agencies to facilitate the compensation of victims of industrial poisoning.

The proposed legislation would set up an Administration Board of Compensation (ABC) to hear claims from victims. A victim applying to the ABC for compensation would have to present scientific evidence designed to show the origin of the victim's ailment. Once the cause was determined, the ABC would order the manufacturer who was responsible for the damage to compensate the victim.