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I keep wondering this after always reading in the news about someone suing for things in the US such as getting injured opening the packaging on an item, tripping in the mall etc. There's always some commentary by those reading about how frivolous lawsuits have gotten.
I don't want to be too stereotypical but is there some truth about the idea that compared to other nations, the US has a "culture of lawsuits", or is it just that there's more media exposure of it (at least where I am). Do other countries in the developed world (and if any, which) do have a similar attitudes?
I'd like to hear some interesting perspectives.
Last edited by Cornerguy1; 01-20-2011 at 08:52 PM..
This is the “sue” country. It's the new American dream. Sue and get rich.
It’s the American way to get PAID, regardless of the circumstances. In this country, a thief can sue you for stealing at your house and getting trapped inside. A fat person can sue you for eating at your restaurant and getting fat from there.
It is the mentality of those who think that suing someone with no merit is acceptable and OK to do when the American court system waste thousands of dollars on cases that have no real credibility. This clearly shows that something is seriously wrong with the American legal system.
The cynical reasons upthread notwithstanding, there are two practical reasons:
1) Americans have guaranteed access to the courts. A court can decline to hear the case but only after reviewing the facts. So in essence, an American with a claim is entitled to have a judge review the case.
2) The "American rule" wherein each party is responsible for paying their own legal fees (except in rare circumstances) regardless of outcome. This is unique among English common-law systems. In most such systems, loser pays which makes people much more circumspect about bringing a case. But here, a defendant is responsible for their own legal fees even if their defense is successful, so it's often cheaper to pay someone to go away than to litigate -- even if you have a solid defense.
The cynical reasons upthread notwithstanding, there are two practical reasons:...
I'm not sure I see any "cynical reason upthread" myself.
Sorry, I lived in the U.S. for over sixty years and I cannot imagine an American who walked up the sidewalk to somone's door and tripped over a raised flagstone or a toy and broke his collarbone who wouldn't try and sue the butt off the owner of the house, and who wouldn't be encouraged to do so by his friends.
Elnina is right: Sue, sue, sue is what it's all about.
I think the reaction if you went to a lawyer in the country where I live would be: Why didn't you watch where you were going you fool? How could you be so stupid to trip over that toy?
Its a God given right to eat six Big Mc meals and sue because youre fat!
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