We definitely need some kind of tort reform.
Americans have a lottery mentality regarding civil suits, both as plaintiffs
and jurors... and the jackpots keep getting bigger and bigger.
I still think the loser of a lawsuit should pay all court and legal costs,
though I understand the downside of that too (from a recent post here).
At a bare minimum, plaintiffs should only be able to sue for actual damages.
If punitive damages must be awarded, do something useful with them. Apply
them to safety reform, quality assurance... or just pay down the national
debt.
As a last resort, BURN the money... whatever it takes to keep it out of the
hands of the lawyers and plaintffs.
Suits are for redressing wrongs, not a reward for either lack or personal
responsiblity or being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Eric "I'm too young to be this old"