Comments on: 12-year-old’s slide injury to cost Little League $125K

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:56:39 +0000

“The fact is, tort costs in the U.S. jumped 46% in just the pasts five years. As noted in this space yesterday, a new study by the Pacific Research Institute reports that the total direct and indirect costs of lawsuits are a staggering $865 billion (for context, the U.S. spends only about $108 billion a year fighting the war in Iraq).”

What is the total cost as it relates to the GDP? What percentage of the $865 billion are frivolous lawsuits? Of those frivolous lawsuits what percentage were corporate America? These numbers mean nothing. A 46% growth has no relavant meaning. How much did the GDP grow in that time frame?

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:47:11 +0000

I find this whole discussion regarding tort reform to be a bunch of BS. We trust people for everything in this country, the free market, voting in this Democracy but somehow when it comes to juries everyone is a bunch of idiots that can not be trusted with determining justice. We talk about those emotional “juries”. Well justice is an emotion. We determine what is just by what we feel. Democracy has a cost and is not efficient as is the case with justice but it is the best we have. Democracy is not about capitalism and efficient markets. Justice is a core value to this Democracy.

“I know of no safe repository of the ultimate power of society but people. And if we think them not enlightened enough, the remedy is not to take the power from them, but to inform them by education.” – Thomas Jefferson.

“For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people.” – John F. Kennedy

By: Melvin H.

Melvin H. — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 16:36:39 +0000

Brian, if I remembe right, Little League was being sued because of injuries "caused" by stationary bases, so they went to the "soft-touch" (breakaway?) base; now they are being sued because of injuries "caused" by these "soft-touch" bases??? Make up your mind, please!! You either have a breakaway or a stationary base; there is no in-between. Or worse, you go to a different design base, and you get sued for injuries "caused" by that base. Sounds to me like these groups which once complained about butter, touting trans-fats 20 years back; now these same groups are suing to get rid of trans-fats!

By: Brian

Brian — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 22:43:09 +0000

Your comment as to whether it really matters the kind of bases used does matter if in fact they are faulty in design. As I said in my prior comment, the soft touch base is more dangerous than regular stationary bases (in fact, they’re a piece of crap) and if an international institution like LL “recommended” them without properly vetting them, then they should be held liable.

By: Johnn

Johnn — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:34:12 +0000

This lawsuit is just wrong. Steven is right….putting the “law” aside can we really say that it is right to sue volunteers and a little league (LITTLE LEAGUE!!!) organization because you’re child got injured? I invite you to disagree with my opinion, and tell you who do this: you are the reason America is falling. And I am sick of people like you.

By: Corey

Corey — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 03:57:06 +0000

This is what is wrong with our country these days. It was so much better when we were growing up and things were based on common sense. I remember one time a friend and I egged the neighbor’s car when we were around 13, a couple of men there roughed us up a little for it. Nowadays it would be big lawsuit, but our dads just said serves you right, you’ll think about it next time.

We should change the court system so people like this get hit with heavy fines for frivolous lawsuits if they lose. Now it’s just like hitting the lottery and you don’t even have to buy a ticket.

By: Welcome Free Range Kids readers

Welcome Free Range Kids readers — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 11:44:27 +0000

[…] more than kind words about this site (”great, nay mindblowing”) and a discussion of our recent post about a Staten Island mother’s suit against Little League and volunteer coaches. Interesting […]

By: Steven

Steven — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 20:06:16 +0000

Does it really matter what kind of bases were out their? The fact is a little kid slid into 2nd and got hurt. Things like this happen all the time, this doesn’t mean you sue everybody because of an accident. This is ridiculous. Kids and adults get hurt all the time playing sports, thats just what happens.

By: DanM

DanM — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:50:31 +0000

I cannot believe this was even in court. Can I sue her for emotional distress since I am a coach and have a hard time functioning properly because I’m worried about getting sued by the players? Can I sue her for negligence because she didn’t teach her son how to slide properly? When is all of this going to stop?

By: Phil

Phil — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 03:18:49 +0000

So what’s next, turning it all into T-Ball using those extra soft tennis balls and making all fielders use hockey goalie padding? We get 5 & 6 year old’s nailed by balls all of the time and the parents tell them to walk it off and get back out there.

Besides, if you want your kids to learn fundamental, pay for the f’king lessons instead of relying on volunteer coaches to teach them everything. We have our hands full as it is scheduling practices/games and making sure everyone is there, can hit, catch, and throw to worry about if every single kid knows the fine art of the figure four slide.

Worst of all is the judge that didn’t laugh this lawsuit out of court.