Comments on: Senator McCain, Maybe There Should Be Lawsuits

By: Sarah M Thompson

Sarah M Thompson — Sun, 04 May 2008 03:02:14 +0000

I must comment immediately even before finishing your excellent piece and the comments. The McDonald’s lawsuit was NOT frivolous, and the fact that you believe it is only speaks to the power and cleverness of the insurance industry’s propaganda. Of course the industry has been helped immensly over the last 20 years or so by the GOP and its corporatist philosophy.
Herewith but a few facts about the McDonald’s case: The plaintiff was a very old woman who was a passenger in a car when the top popped off of (exploded?) her coffee, and the coffee spilled all over her lap and legs. The coffee was very very hot and she ended up being badly burned and hospitalized for a few days. Originally, she just wanted McDonald’s to pay her medical bills. It refused.

She reiterated the offer after the judge tried to work out a settlement. No soap! The executives from McDonald’s who testified were so arrogant and uncaring that it was apparent from the multimillion dollar verdict that the jury intended to punish them and the corporation. After the verdict, the judge reduced the amount upon the defendants’ request, and the plaintiff took even less in settlement so that McDonald’s would agree to drop the appeal. Incidentally, the coffee at McDonalds is now much less hot when served.

Please, in the future when you hear this “tort reform” propaganda, check with the plaintiffs’ bar (google Trial Lawyers) to get the facts. And yes, it is the old story: while plaintiffs’ lawyers make a good living, we have FAR less money and organization than the insurance industry.

By: Knemon

Knemon — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 14:29:02 +0000

“the now infamous McDonald’s coffee suit comes to mind”

Not as frivolous as commonly believed, according to my torts prof. – a combination of shoddy lid design and coffee kept way too hot with no appreciable consumer benefit = way more of a claim than the “pants judge” had.

By: McCain Opposes Equal Pay for Women

McCain Opposes Equal Pay for Women — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:17:11 +0000

[...] Comments from Left Field, Kyle E. Moore points out the obvious: Senator McCain, Maybe There Should be Lawsuits. This is my contention with the Right’s war on law suits; occasionally, they’re [...]

By: Buck Naked Politics

Buck Naked Politics — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:14:55 +0000

McCain Opposes Equal Pay for Women…

Posted by Damozel | If you liked Reagan, the odds are you don’t think McCain is too old to be president. And if you liked Reagan, the reason he gave for opposing a bill that would ensure women equal pay for equal work might even make sense to you. Her…

By: DrGail

DrGail — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:18:34 +0000

Even more astounding than his contention that giving women the right to sue for pay discrimination will lead to lawsuits is his insistence that pay parity can best be achieved if women would take steps to educate themselves and get work-related training. Especially, y’know, given how many of them little women are single parents an’ all, and really should get some extry larnin’ so they can support them itty-bitty babies.

Oooh, do I sound bitter?