Young Engrs fresh out of school had to attend a 2 day seminar on product liability. Upon exit many had the response, of "What the H%!! did I go to college, for this?"
What was being said was in the litigious society you have to think ahead and design for what you might get sued for. I can't prove it, but I think the Saturn Daytime Running Lights might have been a byproduct of this mentality.
So next time you want to go big three bashing about the lack of engineering thank the fully owned subsidiary of the Democratic Party, The American Trial Lawyers Association.
Even the military services are submerged in the new lawyer-run world; no tactical decisions of any significance are being made without review by a military counsel (I'm not exaggerating) and every aspect of military life is subject to the lawyers in some way or another. Has caused several generations of officers to be selected for promotion based on their ability to avoid trouble. Chesty Puller wouldn't have made it past 2nd Lieutenant in today's Corps
Two reason for this mess: all of the goombahs that sue everyone for everything and the stupid/treasonous courts that take the lawsuits.
It'll get worse under Comrade Obama.