Philly's Complex Litigation Center is profit center, says reformer

Legal News Line ^ | 11-10-11 | Michael P. Tremoglie

[Miami Vice]

In New York, they call it the Bronx Jury Effect.

Here, it's called the South Philadelphia Jury Effect, which looks something like a wealth redistribution scheme, according to a legal observer.

"Philadelphia's courts have been bad for years," said James Copland, Director of the Manhattan Institute's Center for Legal Reform.

Copland said the effect is a net result of juries that will award exorbitant amounts to plaintiffs who are suing anyone - such as doctors or large corporations - they perceive as being able to pay and that they believe should pay out large amounts.

Empirical data exists that indicates that juries in venues where there is high unemployment and poverty rates are more likely to award settlements that are costlier to defendants, Copland said.

"According to the data, during the 1990s

[traditional1]

Ambulance-chasers, "negligence" creators, etc. are the bulk of Civil Lawsuits today that are clogging the courts, trying to extort a buzzillion dollars from those "mean ol' corporations" or insurance companies....there's no risk in bringing multi-million dollar Actions, and Juries are formed of "Litigation Lotto"-friendly types, who think "one day, it's gonna be my turn to cash in".

Tort Reform can't get through the Courts or Legislators, as they are made up of fellow Lawyers, and this is the lifeblood of the Legal "profession".

Shakespeare comes to mind.....

[frithguild]

Shakespeare comes to mind

Yes - the best way to take the rights of people through insurection is to kill all the lawyers first.