NEW YORK (FinalCall.com)�A class action lawsuit filed on March 26 in a federal court in Brooklyn accuses three corporations of profiting from slavery and asks the court to bring the case to a jury on behalf of Blacks who claim slaves as "ancestors."

The lawsuit, a first of its kind, names Deadria Farmer-Paellmann, 36, a New York legal researcher, as plaintiff. She says she has documented the links between modern day corporations and slavery. The companies named as defendants are insurer Aetna, Fleet-Boston Financial Corporation and CSX Transportation. The lawsuit reserves the right to add up to 100 additional corporations as defendants.

"Aetna, CSX and Fleet-Boston unjustly enriched themselves by a system that enslaved and exploited human beings," Ms. Farmer-Paellman said, at a press conference held in a Brooklyn hotel shortly after the lawsuit was filed. "We are finally going to get these companies to come forward and tell the truth about their role in slavery."

In attendance were City Council members Charles Barron and Bill Perkins, activists Viola Plummer of the December 12th Movement, Sam Anderson of the Reparations Mobilization Coalition and Minister Kevin Muhammad of Muhammad Mosque No. 7.

Also attending the press conference was Richard E. Barber Sr. of Somerset, N.J., who will file a similar suit in New Jersey. He and his attorneys did not reveal the companies.

While no dollar amount for damages have been specified, lead co-counsel Roger Wareham, of the firm Thomas, Wareham and Richards, said, "This is not about receiving a check in the mail." He added that money from the lawsuit would go toward improving health, education and housing for Blacks. The complaint estimates the current value of slaves who were unpaid for their labor at $1.4 trillion.

Aetna has acknowledged issuing life insurance policies on an undetermined number of slaves, naming their owners as beneficiaries. In a statement, Aetna said it already expressed "deep regret" for issuing those slave policies. Concerning the lawsuit, they said, "We do not believe a court would permit a lawsuit over events which, however regrettable, occurred hundreds of years ago."

Aetna added that it has invested more that $36 million in the Black community.

Fleet-Boston�s predecessor bank was funded by John Brown, a notorious Rhode Island slave trader. Fleet-Boston officials declined comment.

CSX spokeswoman Kathy Burns, in a written statement, said there is "no legal basis" for the lawsuit. CSX owns early rail lines built by slaves.