On Thu, 31 Jul 2008 09:45:40 -0700, Darren New wrote:

> Jim Henderson wrote:
>> I'm not necessarily talking legally, I'm just talking about how most
>> people seem to behave - that they couldn't have made a mistake, it has
>> to be someone else's responsibility.
> 
> I think one is the result of the other, tho. I don't think people
> thought this way 100 years ago.

Very possible.

>> Another example: My son's girlfriend was in a car accident about 8
>> months
> 
> I read where someone stole a car, ran from the police in it, caused
> damage to the police cars chasing, and the police sued the owner of the
> car for the damage. Weird.

Yeah, lots of stories like that.  Guy breaks into a house, gets himself 
locked in the garage with only some dog food to eat.  For a week, because 
the homeowners were on vacation.  Sues the homeowners (and IIRC wins) 
because they failed to provide him an escape route and he nearly starved 
to death.

>> Yep, what you've written here is a good explanation of how things work
>> and how the costs are factored into the cost of goods.
> 
> Except that it's self-reinforcing. People win giant lawsuits *because*
> of the liability laws. People wouldn't sue if they could only get
> recompense for the actual damage done, and I expect most wouldn't sue if
> they'd done something stupid if they would lose because they did
> something stupid. But because the laws are there, companies buy
> insurance and bump their prices, and because of this people *do* sue.

Yep, it is a vicious cycle, no doubt about that.

The whole system is fundamentally broken, I think, at least as regards 
liability.  There is a place for liability, of course, but we're at a 
ridiculous place now.  Just ask any doctor about malpractice insurance, 
especially in fields that are still considered experimental.

Jim

Post a reply to this message