Comments on: Demand for $38 quadrillion, cont’d

By: Tom P.

Tom P. — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 06:39:12 +0000

I feel somewhat special. Had someone file a third party counterclaim against me for “$9,750,000 billion dollars” or $9,750,000,000,000,000.00. Roughly 238 times the gross world product.

Not sure if that makes me the winner.

By: Eric T.

Eric T. — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:04:30 +0000

If the U.S. instituted a “loser pays” rule and abolished contingency fees, most of the frivolous cases we marvel over would disappear.

Probably not. A significant percentage of the cases you marvel at, such as this one for $38 quadrillion, are filed by people with a few screws loose, and done so without lawyers.

Neither logic nor law would dissuade such filings.

By: GregS

GregS — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:37:40 +0000

Friedman’s suggestion that jury trials be abolished in civil cases is unnecessary. If the U.S. instituted a “loser pays” rule and abolished contingency fees, most of the frivolous cases we marvel over would disappear. The prospect of actually having to pay your lawyer to represent you, and of having to pay the other party’s legal fees if you lose, would cause potential plaintiffs to think long and hard before they sue. And without the opportunity for a huge jackpot payout at the end, lawyers would be less likely to agree to take on these kinds of far-fetched cases.

By: Eric T.

Eric T. — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:17:47 +0000

There is no reform in the world that will stop a nut job from making a nutty claim.

The ones that will be impacted will be those with legititimate claims.