Need For Lawsuit Reform Highlighted

Every once in a while we find an article that exemplifies the issues we see with a topic. Today it is the ten most outrageous lawsuits.  In the following article we find cruise lines being sued because the ship moved side to side or a store being sued by someone over an  80 cent refund.  These are great examples of the sad state of the legal system.

Last year, I had the fortunate/unfortunate luck to  be picked to be a member of a jury. In this trial, the members of the jury saw witnesses who were not prepared to testify, prosecutors who did not have a case and a district attorney who only prosecuted to be "politically-correct."  I felt the three day trial was waste of money and our time. Other members of the jury agreed as they voted "not guilty."

You combine my experience and the ridiculous lawsuits previously mentioned, you get a glimpse into a system in trouble.  Lawyers must decide that they need to clean up the mess, correct the abuses, sanction lawyers who bring goofy suits, and making sure that prosecutors have evidence to win the case. Without a change, it will only get worse! 

What do you think?

Conservative Tom

Here is the article:

The 10 Most Ridiculous Lawsuits of 2011

LiveScience.com – Sat, Dec 31, 2011

We've all heard about crazy lawsuits and 2011 was no exception when it came to the filing of frivolous – even ridiculous – lawsuits.

A lawsuit by a kidnapper against his victims for not helping him evade police tops the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Institute for Legal Reform’s (ILR) survey of the Top Ten Most Ridiculous Lawsuits of 2011, released today.

"While these lawsuits vary from the outrageous to the humorous, abusive litigation is hardly a laughing matter," said ILR President Lisa Rickard. "ILR's annual poll of ridiculous lawsuits helps to remind us that abusive lawsuits affect real people and real businesses, and can have harmful results to lives, jobs, and even our economic growth."

ILR announced the top ten vote-getters from among those chosen throughout the year by visitors to the FacesOfLawsuitAbuse.org website. The lawsuits were selected from those featured in the website's monthly polls for 2011. The Faces of Lawsuit Abuse campaign is ILR's public awareness effort created to highlight the impact of abusive lawsuits on small businesses, communities, and individuals.
The top ten Most Ridiculous Lawsuits of 2011 are:
•Convict sues couple he kidnapped for not helping him evade police
•Man illegally brings gun into bar, gets injured in a fight, then sues bar for not searching him for a weapon
•Young adults sue mother for sending cards without gifts and playing favorites
•Woman disagrees with store over 80-cent refund, sues for $5 million
•Mom files suit against exclusive preschool over child's college prospects
•Man suing for age discrimination says judge in his case is too old
•Obese man sues burger joint over tight squeeze in booths
•Woman sues over movie trailer; says not enough driving in "Drive"

•Passenger's lawsuit says cruise ship went too fast and swayed from side to side

•Mother sues Chuck E. Cheese – says games encourage gambling in children