Lawyers these days

[dreamaker]

Does anyone feel, sue everyone TV ads, are getting out of control with petty issues. Lately, it is the talcum, baby powder law suite.  There was one I have seen for antacids and indigestion issues. What is going on these days with people?

[Gryphon]

It is no longer about making things right or about true medical negligence.  It's about winning the litigation lottery.  Greedy people with their hands out.  It's a sad commentary on society.  I don't expect it to improve in the near future.

[Valkorado]

There's a woman suing $tarbuck$ for 5 MILLION because of too much ice in their iced drinks.

http://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/half-full-woman-sues-starbucks-over-too-much-ice-n565586

[old2soon]

That "person" that won that lawsuit years ago over hot coffee has helped the current era of nonsensical litigation. Yeah-I get those same ads here in the Ozarks. Far as the J & J lawsuit goes sound like J & J MIGHT have known they had a problem and kept selling the stuff. BUT some of this stuff brought to trial if I was on the jury they would play hell gittin a large settlement-as in retirement large. I'm thinkin beyond a shadow of doubt may not be the standard these days. RIDE SAFE.

[Roadog]

  It's all about the BIG check Dreamaker.  People today want to be made independently wealthy, them and their family.  It's not about being offended,  no one is really offended it's about $$$$.  Today everyone is sue-happy.  

Roadog

[Jess from VA]

I am sick of these adds.

If I thought this resulted in better drugs, or talcum/baby powder, or prosthetic devices etc, it would be one thing.  But I think all we get are factored in increased costs of future litigation in all our medical devices and drugs, etc.

I'd like to see some parody of this crap.

Did you get butt hurt over _____________ (fill in the blank)?  If so contact Dewy, Cheatum & Howe, and we will sue the hell out of someone for you.  We all barely made it through law school, but we know how to draft up litigation against rich businesses, and pry some easy settlement money out of them.  Come on, everyone's doing it... don't get left out of the fun.

Excepting people who are truly injured by shoddy drugs or products, the rest of this crap is just like another tax that all of us pay for the privilege of breathing.

I am kind of glad they're going after the talcum powder..... I mean, back in the day, I was snorting huge lines of that stuff several times a day.

[Oss]

Shep was great


But this is the pic on the wall next to my desk

[Fazer]

Two words--Tort Reform! 

But getting this through any body of legislature that is comprised primarily of--you guessed it--lawyers, will have two chances, slim and none.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I am sick of these adds.

If I thought this resulted in better drugs, or talcum/baby powder, or prosthetic devices etc, it would be one thing.  But I think all we get are factored in increased costs of future litigation in all our medical devices and drugs, etc.

I'd like to see some parody of this crap.

Did you get butt hurt over _____________ (fill in the blank)?  If so contact Dewy, Cheatum & Howe, and we will sue the hell out of someone for you.  We all barely made it through law school, but we know how to draft up litigation against rich businesses, and pry some easy settlement money out of them.  Come on, everyone's doing it... don't get left out of the fun.

Excepting people who are truly injured by shoddy drugs or products, the rest of this crap is just like another tax that all of us pay for the privilege of breathing.

I am kind of glad they're going after the talcum powder..... I mean, back in the day, I was snorting huge lines of that stuff several times a day.

Didn't you know you were supposed to cut the Talcum powder with some cocaine ?

[G-Man]

AND WE ALL PAY FOR IT IN THE END.


My company came out with a new drug.  During trials it was demonstrated that the new drug caused less side effects and was easier for patients to comply with (no regular blood tests) than the drug that has been on the market for 50 years.

Now, even though it is demonstrated to be better than what it is replacing, of course it does still cause some side effects, but at a much lower number than what it is replacing.  And, of course, the lawsuits started and the TV ads started and the company settled for $650 million.  Just the cost of doing business.  Some sales force was let go, admins, etc.  Drugs get more expensive.  Every one pays.

[Jess from VA]

I am sick of these adds.

If I thought this resulted in better drugs, or talcum/baby powder, or prosthetic devices etc, it would be one thing.  But I think all we get are factored in increased costs of future litigation in all our medical devices and drugs, etc.

I'd like to see some parody of this crap.

Did you get butt hurt over _____________ (fill in the blank)?  If so contact Dewy, Cheatum & Howe, and we will sue the hell out of someone for you.  We all barely made it through law school, but we know how to draft up litigation against rich businesses, and pry some easy settlement money out of them.  Come on, everyone's doing it... don't get left out of the fun.

Excepting people who are truly injured by shoddy drugs or products, the rest of this crap is just like another tax that all of us pay for the privilege of breathing.

I am kind of glad they're going after the talcum powder..... I mean, back in the day, I was snorting huge lines of that stuff several times a day.

Didn't you know you were supposed to cut the Talcum powder with some cocaine ?

I heard that coke was mostly cut with baby laxative.   

I was unaware babies ever needed laxative.

[old2soon]

I take drugs to help with my blood pressure my indigestion and my arthritis. Most if not al of my drugs have been on the market for awhile. EVERY Time with out fail when I receive my next 90 day supply I get a warning sheet with the drug(s). I actually took the time to read the sheet for each drug I'm taking. ALL of my drugs do have certain side effects. Used wrong one or two of my drugs can be life threatening. I choose to use them because it makes it possible for me to get thru the day with a better quality of life and Most IMPORTANT-because of these drugs I can still RIDE  I'd rather NOT be held back from what I Love to do with out these drugs available to enhance and increase my QUALITY of life. Take the time to find out WHAT you are putting in your body. Use Common sense!  Could I win a lawsuit cuz my beer is too cold!  RIDE SAFE.

[vanagon40]

That "person" that won that lawsuit years ago over hot coffee has helped the current era of nonsensical litigation. . . .

Let me preface my remarks by stating that I am a lawyer. That said, I hate when people use the McDonald's million dollar hot coffee case as an example jury verdicts run amok. I will not go into detail here, but there was a lot a background (and subsequent verdict reduction) that never made the news. If you google the case, I think you may conclude that the plaintiff was not trying to hit the lottery and the jury verdict was not unreasonable.

My personal theory is that no one accepts personal responsibility for anything bad that happens to him or her. If a person is injured, someone else must pay. If a person loses his or her job, he or she must have been discriminated against. Everyone has a "right" to have some insurance company pay for his or her loss.

The legal system (and tort lawsuit) is not perfect, but I am not sure "tort reform legislation" is the answer. Verdict caps sound great until someone tells you that losing your wife or husband is a loss of no more than $300,000.

[Firefighter]

WOW! So if you lose a case, your client was discriminated against, and you should be held accountable?

[The emperor has no clothes]

That "person" that won that lawsuit years ago over hot coffee has helped the current era of nonsensical litigation. . . .

Let me preface my remarks by stating that I am a lawyer. That said, I hate when people use the McDonald's million dollar hot coffee case as an example jury verdicts run amok. I will not go into detail here, but there was a lot a background (and subsequent verdict reduction) that never made the news. If you google the case, I think you may conclude that the plaintiff was not trying to hit the lottery and the jury verdict was not unreasonable.

My personal theory is that no one accepts personal responsibility for anything bad that happens to him or her. If a person is injured, someone else must pay. If a person loses his or her job, he or she must have been discriminated against. Everyone has a "right" to have some insurance company pay for his or her loss.

The legal system (and tort lawsuit) is not perfect, but I am not sure "tort reform legislation" is the answer. Verdict caps sound great until someone tells you that losing you wife or husband is a loss of no more $300,000.

Informative post 

[old2soon]

That "person" that won that lawsuit years ago over hot coffee has helped the current era of nonsensical litigation. . . .

Let me preface my remarks by stating that I am a lawyer. That said, I hate when people use the McDonald's million dollar hot coffee case as an example jury verdicts run amok. I will not go into detail here, but there was a lot a background (and subsequent verdict reduction) that never made the news. If you google the case, I think you may conclude that the plaintiff was not trying to hit the lottery and the jury verdict was not unreasonable.

My personal theory is that no one accepts personal responsibility for anything bad that happens to him or her. If a person is injured, someone else must pay. If a person loses his or her job, he or she must have been discriminated against. Everyone has a "right" to have some insurance company pay for his or her loss.

The legal system (and tort lawsuit) is not perfect, but I am not sure "tort reform legislation" is the answer. Verdict caps sound great until someone tells you that losing your wife or husband is a loss of no more than $300,000.

         As a Lawyer I'm guessing you see more-I M H O-frivolous cases than we actually hear about. BUT you hit on something that HAS gone by the wayside in recent times. Personal responsibility. Some folks-What?-need someone else to blame for their problems that may have originated cause they were shortsighted to begin with. Dad told me a long time ago a Man has to take responsibility for his own actions. Tried very hard to do just that. RIDE SAFE.

[solo1]

Kinda along the same lines. Some years ago, our city got sued by a black teacher from Ft. Wayne because of a traffic stop.  She complained of racism and a number of other things.
Unlike Ft. Wayne, our big neighbor to the west.  New Haven fights ALL frivolous lawsuits  and had the lawsuit thrown out because the event was recorded on tape.  The generous use of the f word against the officer , plus resistance to the stop, was heard.

Ft. Wayne, I understand, is self insured and generally doesn't fight lawsuits like these, they just settle.  Puts the officer in a bad light.

Not being racists, just stating facts.

[dreamaker]

I think at this point we have to make a distinction between lawyers and ambulance chasers, and have to assume we are talking about the ambulance chasers.  Thinking awhile back, I believe that these medications, devices and methods where created with the best intentions. At the time they were the state of the art, cutting edge technology of that time period, but of course we know nothing last forever, and things can wear out. But now these ambulance chasers take advantage of that, and make it look like they were a bunch of Dr. Frankenstein’s creations, rather than avenues to live a better life.

[Willow]

It's too easy to point the finger at lawyers.

A lawyer's job is to represent the client.  It is his (or her) job to do what the client would do in representing himself if he had the knowledge and skill.  That is, of course, short of any deception or perjury.

If juries (you and me, no?) didn't grant unrealistic awards then no one would be motivated to represent the "injured" parties in pursuing such awards.  Think of it a bit.  How would you feel about your attorney telling you, "You could get 1.3 million dollars but honestly you only deserve twenty thousand so we'll be going for the lower amount."

It's the culture.  Part of that culture, hopefully a very small part, is you and me.  Let's work on what we think and what the people around us think.  Let's let the lawyers off the hook on this one.

Ambulance chasers?  We can only be "holier than thou" if we choose ourselves working for a lessor salary than we could get simply because we believe our employer has better comparative values.

[solo1]

Again, another example, not lawyer involved.  Kind of backs up Willow's points.

When I first was elected to city council , my district had started an ambitious road repaving.  In a short time, a lady complained that her toilet quit working and it was our fault because we tore up her street (her sewer hookup ran under the street).  She even called everyone and said that the city HAD to make it right.  I was pestered a lot.  We, the city, told her we would 'fix' it if it were our fault.

We did a video of her sewer hookup and found maple tree roots completely clogging her line.

Magically, those roots grew overnight and completely clogged her line. Dishonest people think that a city has 'deep pockets' and will try ......Sound familiar?

I was turned from a trusting soul into something else by my 14 years on the council.  Run for elected office and you'll see the same.

[hogjol55]

You guys need to do some research and get informed. My wife learned to use baby powder on her private parts as a preteen in order to stay dry. She was a cheerleader.  She continued using it for 35+ years. She did not smoke, drink or do drugs. She was a picture of health until 2010 when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I lost her in 2012. My life, as I new it, ended that day too. Doctors could not tell me what causes ovarian cancer. It is just one of those diseases, I was told. After some testing and more research, talc was found in her system. No amount of money will bring OUR life back. I would give everything I own including my Valk, to get her back. If you don't warn every female you know about the danger of baby powder, then you are ignorant.  JD  married 30 yrs. and now alone because of BABY POWDER.

[G-Man]

You guys need to do some research and get informed. My wife learned to use baby powder on her private parts as a preteen in order to stay dry. She was a cheerleader.  She continued using it for 35+ years. She did not smoke, drink or do drugs. She was a picture of health until 2010 when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I lost her in 2012. My life, as I new it, ended that day too. Doctors could not tell me what causes ovarian cancer. It is just one of those diseases, I was told. After some testing and more research, talc was found in her system. No amount of money will bring OUR life back. I would give everything I own including my Valk, to get her back. If you don't warn every female you know about the danger of baby powder, then you are ignorant.  JD  married 30 yrs. and now alone because of BABY POWDER.

Man, so sorry for your loss.  Unfortunately, the talc thing wasn't discovered until it was too late for many women.  Also unfortunately, we can't wait 20 - 30 years to allow drugs and products to come to market so we can see the long term effects.  Anything nowadays that involves personal hygiene, clothing, or anything consumed by the public has to go through testing and through trials on animals and/or humans.  I believe most are done honestly due to the incredible amounts of regulations placed upon every piece of minutia involved with creating, manufacturing, and selling of products.

And even after all the regulations, and billions spent complying with the regulations, there are just some things that get by us. 

[Wizzard]

Most hate Lawyers till they need one. 

[Oss]

Speaking of McDonalds  I once had a case where the counterperson at Burger King spilled a whole cup of scalding hot coffee on a client chest and nether regions
She suffered serious burns that did heal (lots of cocoa and shea butter and aloe)
My secretary and I took pictures (she was a hottie  pun intended) and she got a fair settlement (not millions)

Sometimes stuff happens  If one has a duty to do or not do something and messes up and a person is hurt and could have beeen reasonably expected to be hurt there may be liability

Drug testing takes a long time, lots of people, good folks, involved, lots of oversight and maybe also not the right kind of oversight  sometimes from the top who know more than they may let on. Its not a perfect system Sometimes people die.  My own daughter took Embrel for years when it was new. Nobody we are told knew to expect lymphoma. It happened.

Thank the good Lord she is a survivor   My heart goes out to those of you who have lost loved ones
and those who are battling cancers and other illnesses.

Bottom line for me, tell the truth, dont be afraid to sue if you think its right, dont be afraid to settle if you think that is right.  Get a 2nd opinion whether on an atty or doctor for operations

[Wizzard]

Speaking of McDonalds  I once had a case where the counterperson at Burger King spilled a whole cup of scalding hot coffee on a client chest and nether regions
She suffered serious burns that did heal (lots of cocoa and shea butter and aloe)
My secretary and I took pictures (she was a hottie  pun intended) and she got a fair settlement (not millions)

Sometimes stuff happens  If one has a duty to do or not do something and messes up and a person is hurt and could have beeen reasonably expected to be hurt there may be liability

Drug testing takes a long time, lots of people, good folks, involved, lots of oversight and maybe also not the right kind of oversight  sometimes from the top who know more than they may let on. Its not a perfect system Sometimes people die.  My own daughter took Embrel for years when it was new. Nobody we are told knew to expect lymphoma. It happened.

Thank the good Lord she is a survivor   My heart goes out to those of you who have lost loved ones
and those who are battling cancers and other illnesses.

Bottom line for me, tell the truth, dont be afraid to sue if you think its right, dont be afraid to settle if you think that is right.  Get a 2nd opinion whether on an atty or doctor for operations

Great advice  
And I don't believe you,, where are the pics/ 

[Oss]

At the time I was coaching my kids AYSO (soccer team)  The travel team (like a club team) coach was a real asshat.  I was surprised to see him on the other side of the deposition and had not known he was an atty till them.

My client showed him some of the pics.

He asked if they were touched up

You ever see a hispanic woman jump over a table to kick a 200 lb man's ass?  It was great.

Anyway, he offered a good settlement once convinced the injury was real, it was also on camera by the way.

Cant post pics due to client privilege sorry (no Im not