Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!swlabs!jack
From: jack@swlabs.UUCP (Jack Bonn)
Newsgroups: news.sysadmin
Subject: Re: Fooey on your cynical, litigious personalities
Keywords: cranky, tired, geek
Message-ID: <3510@swlabs.UUCP>
Date: 11 Nov 88 23:06:38 GMT
References: <5392@saturn.ucsc.edu>
Reply-To: jack@swlabs.UUCP (Jack Bonn)
Organization: Software Labs, Ltd. Easton, CT USA
Lines: 29

In article <5392@saturn.ucsc.edu> vespa@ssyx.ucsc.edu (Adam Alexander Margulies) writes:
>
>	What is it about the American mentality to sue (or in this case /bin/su).
>The Japanese don't have it, the Europeans don't have it. Why do we?

I believe that it has been caused by the ability for American attorneys to
sue people on a contingency basis.  This is where the lawyers can take a
piece of the judgement (very often up to 33%, or so) and the plaintiff
needs no money "up front".

I am told that this is considered unethical practice in most of the 
civilized world.  (Net: is this true?)  This assumes the USA still 
qualifies as "civilized".

Of course, lifting the ban on advertising by attorneys has added fuel
to the fire.  I've even seen TV ads hinting that accident victims
sue before they feel any ill effects, since after a time limit they may
loose the right to sue.

[The other half of the coin, however, is the impression that countries
who forbid contingency fees are providing justice only for the rich.
I, personally, think that this is little price to pay, however.]

To get this back on the track (for news.sysadmin), does anyone think that 
a judgement against Cornell or the perpetrator is likely enough that one 
could find lawyers willing to take the case on a contingency basis?
-- 
Jack Bonn, <> Software Labs, Ltd, Box 451, Easton CT  06612
uunet!swlabs!jack (UUCP)	jack%swlabs.uucp@uunet.uu.net (INTERNET)