I am no lawyer, but an engineer with (hopefully) some general sence. The main difference in US courts and other countries courts is propably this: In US the huge monetary payment is considered as punishment in general. In many other countries (like here in Finland) the punishment and reparation of the damage are separate things.
For example: You burn a car of your annoying neighbour. In Finland, you get into jail (punishment) for 30 days for it and you pay the prize of a car for victim (reparation). It is not possible to have 1M euros as reparation if the car was not worth it.
However, this does not prevent people to sue other people for these ridiculous claims, but luckily this "american way" has not spread here yet. Also, I do not say the our legal system is better than in US, just that some aspects are better so that people can not take advantage of it in the expense of other people. Also I think that legal systems in US and Finland are so different that it would be difficult to compare. With respect to everyone, Karibu.
[edit]: I hope that no consultant will sue me for my sig
[ January 28, 2004, 15:58: Message edited by: Karibu ]
Re: How Low Will The Lawyers Go?
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