How Low Will The Lawyers Go?

[capnq]

IMO, one of the biggest problems with the US legal system is the concept that "pain and suffering" are worth monetary damages.

Another big problem is people not taking personal responsibility for their own actions; that spreads far beyond the legal system.

[Captain Kwok]

Mephisto:

I've seen your profile before, paramedic and lawyer...

Too bad you aren't in the US, because that could be a great way to meet new clients.

[Atrocities]

The problem with these ambulance chasers now is that when people are really hurt in an accident, they lose in court.

You cannot tell a jury you are suing an insurance company.

You cannot tell a jury you are suing because you have no income and need your medical cost covered that have gone beyond PIP.

The Insurance Company can utterly destroy your credibility because you did not go see a doctor, or failed to keep an appointment, taking comments made to medical staff out of context, and editing video depositions so they "fit" the insurance companies lie.

They can do this because you are powerless, by court order and law, from telling the whole story. That you did not go to the doctor because your PIP coverage had maxed out and any more medication or doctors visits were your responsibility to pay for.

The laws work both ways, they are designed to make truth subjective. Which ever lawyer can present the best "show" wins.

Tabbacoo companies are the lowest form of life on earth and what they did to make Tobacco more addictive was out of pure evil. The Trial lawyers just cashed in on it.

I agree that tort reform is needed, but when law is subject to preseved truth, then justice is no longer blind. An inocent man can be convicted for a crime he did not commit because of subjective turth.

A man seriously injured in a car accident looses his case in court because the Insurance Lawyers have all the laws in there favor. BIG MONEY buys the laws.

I believe that our jury system is broken, and I know that our crimial and civil law systems are utterly bog down in BS.

If a person if tried for a crime, and they are found inocent, or aquitted, then the State should pay for there financial losses incurred as a result of the trial.

To many times to many people have lost everything they own to lawyers and court cost for utterly BS reasons.

As long as we continue to accept our system of justice as is, we will continue to see more and more abuses of the system for those who can afford the price of justice.

Simply put, how much justice are you willing to pay for? In the case of trial lawyers, a lot because the pay off is even bigger.

[ January 29, 2004, 02:13: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[narf poit chez BOOM]

yeah, but people do scam the court's by faking injuries and finding a docter to back them up.

[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

[DavidG]

Originally posted by Growltigger:

quote:

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Originally posted by rdouglass:
Just 2 cents....

The truth (as usual) is somewhere there in the middle. Yes lawyers help us (common citizens) out of many legal issues that we are not capable or trained to deal with. And of that we pay you handsomely.

I believe the same applies to pretty much every trade or profession. I could say the same about plumbers, boiler repairmen, carpenters, electricians, surveyors,

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AY CARUMBA! Your lumping surveyors in the same pay class as lawyers? As a surveyor Now I'm offended. (No not really ) Surveyors are not a rich bunch. (of course I aslo know that the term 'surveyor' has a completely different meaning in the UK)

And if AT is gonna change the name of this thread don't be putting in 'American' We have the same kind of crap going on in Canada. The only thing wrong with the name is the term "THE Lawyers" instead of "Some lawyers" One of my best friends is a lawyer and he's a great guy as are I expect 90% of the rest. Unfortunately it's that other 10% (some would say higher, maybe lower) giving the rest a bad name.

I would, however, say the real problem is the judges who award the ridiculous claims. ie giving a guy $600,000 for an accident he was involved in while drunk.

[Growltigger]

DavidG, dunno what surveyors earn but before I met the current Mrs GT, I did go out with a rather nice young surveyor who had a very nice sports car, an expensive flat and cash to burn, as well as rather nice legs.

There is an office of surveyors next to me, and they all seem to drive rather expensive cars!