January 24 roundup

“[P]rotect good doctors from junk lawsuits by passing medical liability reform.” This sounds much like what we heard four years ago in Overlawyered. [Bush SOTU] Update: Autopsies in Comair crash (Sep. 19) have lawyers salivating over noneconomic damages possibilities. Refreshing honesty: “It’s all about money.” [AP/Insurance Journal] Driver falls asleep at wheel, blames Ford for […]

2 Comments

  • I never understood the concept of parents suing when their children suffer harm. Where’s the damages? I guess it’s that old standy, “emotional distress”.

    Also, why would the fact that some passengers suffocated trigger punitive damages? It appears that the quoted lawyer doesn’t know the difference between punitive and non-economic damages. Even I know that, and I didn’t go to law school.

    [TF: I strongly suspect that this is the reporter’s mistake.]

  • From the article on the Mormon student: “The University of Utah agreed yesterday to let students opt out of activities that conflict with their religious beliefs…”
    But not other beliefs? As a state institution doesn’t this amount to establishement of religion and religious beliefs as having greater rights than non-religious beliefs?