Comments on: Chicago’s hard line on police-misconduct claims

By: David Smith

David Smith — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 03:49:44 +0000

LOoong ago, in Los Angeles, I heard about a company (just heard, this is not being presented as fact) about a company (probably not too large) that owned nothing (rented), owed on inventory, paid stockholder dividends VERY often, and advertised they had no assets, no insurance. Never heard a follow story on how that worked out.

Anyone else heard similar?

By: Anonymous Attorney

Anonymous Attorney — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 20:36:56 +0000

I agree with you, AMcA. Overlawyering — and the lawsuit explosion — are an integral part of the insurance industry business model. If nobody ever sues, no reason to buy insurance. In a way, they’ve got culpability in this mess that maybe hasn’t been fully accounted for. The costs just get passed on to consumers, and all the players pocket something. As an insurance defense lawyer, I was just a very small pawn in that game.

Big companies and self-insured municipalities are more likely to take a stand.

By: AMcA

AMcA — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 19:08:35 +0000

Naw, the defense bar and the insurance companies are never going to take this stance. The insurance companies are perfectly happy to have lots of claims, as long as people keep buying insurance. And as long as the courts continue making lawsuits fun ‘n’ rewarding, insurance protection just plain isn’t optional.

In the end, the insurance industry is happy to have more money flowing through its hands.

BTW: before Walmart called shennanigans on slip ‘n’ falls, Chrysler did it on product liability cases. Call Chicago’s successful move “doing a Chrysler”.

By: Anonymous Attorney

Anonymous Attorney — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 16:59:29 +0000

I KNEW IT.

And I have said as much. Hold the plaintiff’s feet to the fire and just see what happens. Let juries see what loads of crap they’re claiming. Even in a big urban area, a lot of it won’t pass muster.

Now, if the rest of the defense bar would take the same tack, similarly amazing things would happen.

By: Cloudesley Shovell

Cloudesley Shovell — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 10:16:59 +0000

Sounds like Walmart’s stance on slip-and-fall cases.