Re: The McDonald's incident

[Rick Tarara <rbtarara@SPRYNET.COM>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jack Uretsky" <jlu@HEP.ANL.GOV>
To: <PHYS-L@lists.nau.edu>
Sent: Friday, June 23, 2000 3:02 PM
Subject: Re: The McDonald's incident


>         I guess physics teachers can be as knee-jerk as anyone else.
>
>         Is our society "litigation-crazed"?  Most court cases involve
> divorce and drug prosecutions.  Lawyers cannot afford to take contingent
> fee cases unless there is a good prospect of recovery.

All I have to do is listen to the stories my wife brings home from her job
as Elementary School Principal.  Parents are constantly threatening to sue
over this or that, students use the 'S' word frequently.  Do even 1% of
these incidents actually become litigation--NO.  Does this atmosphere in
which people 'think' they can sue on any small pretense effect the efficient
and productive operation of the school system (or almost any other
institution/business in this country)--I'm damned sure it does, and not for
the better!  Sorry Jack, but I have little patience with the law profession
or the practice of law in this country as it has been displayed to the
public over the past several years.  Truth and Justice seem to play
virtually no role (my perception), at least in the high-profile cases to
which we have ample information.  (I was quickly dismissed from jury duty
when I expressed my views on 'personal responsibility' during the seating
for a civil case.)

Rick