Post by Flash on Feb 9, 2008 18:15:06 GMT -5
Our tort laws certainly need to be revamped but if you believe the only problem with them is that the have-not's [sic] sue the haves to get rich, then you've been bamboozled by the haves. Often the problem is that the haves are suing the have-nots.
"But," you ask, "why would the haves sue the have-nots? The have-nots don't have enough money to be worth suing!"
I'm glad you asked. The have-nots don't have much money but they do have voices and often the haves want to silence them. For example, I've seen many cases where have-nots have given open, honest, factual accounts of bad experiences they have had with companies, only to have the companies come after them with lawsuits to shut them up and to shut up anyone else who might be tempted to give an honest account of their bad experiences with the company. The result is often just what the poorly behaving haves want--lots of have-nots who censor themselves and spread the word to each other that they should all censor themselves, lest they be sued by the haves.
So, argue for tort reform all you want but do so with the knowledge that the strong sometimes prey on the weak and our system is set up by the strong to make that possible.
"But," you ask, "why would the haves sue the have-nots? The have-nots don't have enough money to be worth suing!"
I'm glad you asked. The have-nots don't have much money but they do have voices and often the haves want to silence them. For example, I've seen many cases where have-nots have given open, honest, factual accounts of bad experiences they have had with companies, only to have the companies come after them with lawsuits to shut them up and to shut up anyone else who might be tempted to give an honest account of their bad experiences with the company. The result is often just what the poorly behaving haves want--lots of have-nots who censor themselves and spread the word to each other that they should all censor themselves, lest they be sued by the haves.
So, argue for tort reform all you want but do so with the knowledge that the strong sometimes prey on the weak and our system is set up by the strong to make that possible.