Ouch! The Pain of Frivolous Lawsuits
Ouch! The Pain of Frivolous Lawsuits
Rob Walters
Colorado Technical University
Author Note
This paper was prepared for ENGL 101, CS13-02, taught by Penny Whitney on March 18, 2014.
Abstract
An abstract is a single paragraph, without indentation, that summarizes the key points of the manuscript in 150 to 250 words. The purpose of the abstract is to provide the reader with a brief overview of the paper. This template is based on 6thed of the Publication manual of the American Psychological Association.
Keywords: writing, template, sixth, edition, APA format, self-discipline
Note: Abstracts may not be necessary for shorter, less formal papers. Use at your discretion.
Ouch! The Pain of Frivolous Lawsuits Frivolous lawsuits cost taxpayers over $100 billion each year. “A cost of $838 per U.S. citizen, meaning a family of four pays a “litigation tax” of $3352 for the U.S. civil justice system” (“Get the Facts”, n.d.). The most famous of all frivolous lawsuits was Liebeck v. McDonald’s. The 1994 case involved an 80 year old woman who spilled hot coffee on her lap at a McDonald’s drive thru. “The woman’s attorney argued that McDonald’s was guilty of gross negligence for selling coffee that was unreasonably dangerous and defectively manufactured” (“Liebeck v. McDonald’s Restaurants”, n.d.). McDonald’s indicated that the suit lacked merit. McDonald’s emphasized that Liebeck spilled the coffee on herself, and this was not the result of any negligence on the company’s part. A jury initially awarded Liebeck $200,000 in compensatory damages and $2.7 million in punitive damages. “The parties eventually settled out of court for less than $600,000” (“Liebeck v. McDonald’s Restaurants”, n.d.). To solve the problem of frivolous lawsuits it is important to find ways to discourage unscrupulous attorneys and plaintiffs there by reducing negative economic impact.
The Problem
The U.S. economy suffers immensely from frivolous litigation.
Rob Walters
Colorado Technical University
Author Note
This paper was prepared for ENGL 101, CS13-02, taught by Penny Whitney on March 18, 2014.
Abstract
An abstract is a single paragraph, without indentation, that summarizes the key points of the manuscript in 150 to 250 words. The purpose of the abstract is to provide the reader with a brief overview of the paper. This template is based on 6thed of the Publication manual of the American Psychological Association.
Keywords: writing, template, sixth, edition, APA format, self-discipline
Note: Abstracts may not be necessary for shorter, less formal papers. Use at your discretion.
Ouch! The Pain of Frivolous Lawsuits Frivolous lawsuits cost taxpayers over $100 billion each year. “A cost of $838 per U.S. citizen, meaning a family of four pays a “litigation tax” of $3352 for the U.S. civil justice system” (“Get the Facts”, n.d.). The most famous of all frivolous lawsuits was Liebeck v. McDonald’s. The 1994 case involved an 80 year old woman who spilled hot coffee on her lap at a McDonald’s drive thru. “The woman’s attorney argued that McDonald’s was guilty of gross negligence for selling coffee that was unreasonably dangerous and defectively manufactured” (“Liebeck v. McDonald’s Restaurants”, n.d.). McDonald’s indicated that the suit lacked merit. McDonald’s emphasized that Liebeck spilled the coffee on herself, and this was not the result of any negligence on the company’s part. A jury initially awarded Liebeck $200,000 in compensatory damages and $2.7 million in punitive damages. “The parties eventually settled out of court for less than $600,000” (“Liebeck v. McDonald’s Restaurants”, n.d.). To solve the problem of frivolous lawsuits it is important to find ways to discourage unscrupulous attorneys and plaintiffs there by reducing negative economic impact.
The Problem
The U.S. economy suffers immensely from frivolous litigation.