Sunday, January 30, 2005

Jackie Chiles' Fault

McDonalds Hot Coffee Lawsuit and Beyond: The Tort Reform Myth Machine

"President Bush is now pushing for "tort reform," claiming that lawsuits are hurting the economy. Contrary to popular belief, since 1975 the number of lawsuits has declined. Government data show that the median jury verdict for punitive damages was only $37,000, significantly less than the $65,000 median award in 1992.

Although corporate America is complaining about how lawsuits are "hurting the economy" the vast majority of lawsuits are brought by corporations, not individuals. Moreover, judges dismiss corporate lawsuits as frivolous 69% more often than the lawsuits brought by individuals. "

Keep your eye on the molehill...