‘Craze for Lawsuits’

Not only are there obvious economic repercussions of our litigiousness, but there are social and ethical ramifications as well. Somehow, now, our own clumsiness, misjudgment and ineptness no longer comes into play. We are helpless lambs not expected to foresee that slamming on our car brakes may induce a rear-end accident or diving into 3 feet of water may cause spinal injuries.

Do we wish to perpetuate this type of thinking or can we admit that very often it is our own stupidity that causes our injuries, and that the “at-fault” party is not necessarily the one with insurance?

Twenty years ago, if a person fell on someone’s property, that person would usually pick himself up, brush off the dust, and curse his big feet. Now, attorneys help us to find the imperfection (real or imagined) that must have caused us to “trip” so we can sue the “negligent” property owner. Of course, 20 years ago, there weren’t so many helpful attorneys.

MARCY TIEGER

Anaheim