[Growltigger]

Atrocities and Narf, I cannot comment on the insurance company/medical issues you are talking about as I know very little about this aspect of the US legal system, and what I do know annoys me. I'll leave it to you chaps to discuss the situation.

Mephisto, me old sauerkraut and bratwurst munching, bitburger swilling teutonic chum, long time no currywurst, how are you doing?

I suggest we leave this topic to a US discussion about their jury trial system.

Mephisto and myself, on behalf of the non-US legal community, have made our position clear. We look on from the outside and think the US systems needs reform rather badly.

IMHO, the first step would be to stop with the blame=damages concept, and divorce the concept of damages=compensation. As long as your legal system allows these speculative cases, it is going to be abused by unscrupulous professionals and people out to make a fast buck. Simple as that.

My personal view? ditch the right of the jury to set what compensation is. Set up two clear criteria, "punishment" and "damages". Punishment is at the discretion of the court, and should not be financial. "Damages" need to be proved, and be realistic to what actually has occurred. You smash my car up with a baseball bat? your punishment is a custodial sentence or a fine, damages equal the cost to me of replacing or repairing my car, not several million dollars (which you probably cant pay anyhow) for my feelings!

Atrocities and Geo, please let me have your full names, social security numbers and residential addresses so that I can instruct my US lawyers (the eminent firm of Robbem, Screwem and Scarper)to issue libel proceedings against the pair of you