Personal Injury
Wrongful Death
Worker’s Comp

“Lawsuit Hell” — I Think Not

Newsweek Magazine published an article a few years back entitled "Lawsuit Hell," written by Stuart Taylor. The article blatantly attacked the American Civil Justice system by listing stories of regular Americans being abused by the legal system.

Curiously, Taylor lists no sources. He gives many anecdotes, but provides no documentation or facts that prove these stories to be true.

"In Kentucky, a mother sued her daughter's school after the girl had performed oral sex on a boy during a school bus ride returning from a marching-band contest. The woman blamed poor adult supervision, saying her daughter had been forced." Another Newsweek columnist, Linda McDougal claims otherwise -- "a simple internet search told me that the board of education had determined that the girl had been a victim of sexual assault... She was suspended for not reporting the assault. That is why her mother filed a lawsuit. Among her demands: that the board set up training for its employees on dealing with sexual assaults. Ask any parent whether this was a reasonable response to what happened." McDougal's findings were also confirmed by the Lexington Herald Leader, the local newspaper in the locale where the incident occurred.

How about Ryan Warner, the man who volunteers his time to run an annual softball tournament in Page, Arizona, and donates the proceeds to local school sports programs? When Warner heard a man broke his leg sliding into third base and filed a lawsuit against the city, Warner cancelled the tournament, fearing he'd be named as the defendant.

What Taylor failed to mention is that Warner is immune from liability. Under the Volunteer Protection Act of 1997, volunteers for non-profit organizations or government programs cannot be held responsible for their negligence. Warner claims the Newsweek interviewers failed to mention this to him and that he did not know of the Act.

Newsweek is a widely renowned news magazine. It's very upsetting to see them present the biased piece, "Lawsuit Hell" without any sort of rebuttal or disclaimer. While Stuart Taylor is entitled to his opinions, he is not entitled to take Internet chat room dialogue and call it "facts." Big business and the media are hammering away at your legal rights. Unfortunately, citizens don’t pay heed or even care until it’s too late. Stand up for your rights now — and for the rights of your children in the future.