General Discussion

JDPriestly

(57,936 posts)

33. That myth about frivolous lawsuits.

Wed Jul 31, 2013, 05:18 AM

Jul 2013

They are far more rare than people think, and, at least in California, usually filed without a lawyer.

There are several reasons. First, the cost of just filing the papers is pretty high for the indigent or low-income or mentally ill in California.

Second, lawyers really don't make much money on frivolous lawsuits, that is good lawyers don't make enough money on frivolous lawsuits to run their offices, etc.

I think that frivolous lawsuits used to be more common than they probably are now.

Lawyers need to win and need to win large verdicts or settlements.

Also, filing a frivolous lawsuit can get a lawyer in trouble with the Bar Association depending on how frivolous the lawsuit is and how often they file such suits.

The biggest problem with frivolous lawsuits is maybe with minor personal injury cases and false evidence. But that does not apply to shootings.

California used to have a problem with lawyers filing lawsuits under consumer protection laws that made foolish lawsuits about minor technical violations easy to file by private attorneys. But, the voters changed the law that permitted that.

No. The Stand Your Ground laws are just vicious and deny justice to a bereaved family like the Martins.

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Highlight:

George Zimmerman's Acquittal: Four Blunt Observations [View all] HiPointDem Jul 2013 OP

#4 is spot-on as well. LAGC Jul 2013 #1

Actually, I believe the jury disagreed with your point. Stand Your Ground laws have JDPriestly Jul 2013 #31

There were several eyewitnesses. GreenStormCloud Jul 2013 #39

I meant of the initial encounter. LAGC Jul 2013 #41

Who threw the first punch is irrelevant. GreenStormCloud Jul 2013 #47

Goode's testimony was contaminated magical thyme Aug 2013 #62

Good was a prosecution witness. GreenStormCloud Aug 2013 #64

I had Goode mixed up with Donnelly. My bad. magical thyme Aug 2013 #65

Civil suit: This is where the laws passed with stand your ground do mean something... dkf Jul 2013 #2

bullshit. HiPointDem Jul 2013 #6

Makes sense.... Pelican Jul 2013 #26

That myth about frivolous lawsuits. JDPriestly Jul 2013 #33

Message auto-removed Name removed Jul 2013 #3

bullshit. HiPointDem Jul 2013 #5

Post removed Post removed Jul 2013 #9

If he was any good as a Neighborhood Watch person, he would have stayed in his car. dmr Jul 2013 #17

Message auto-removed Name removed Jul 2013 #19

Killing is an act of aggression BainsBane Jul 2013 #20

Why isn't the fact that Z was taking amphetamines (adderall) getting more interest? nt Bigmack Jul 2013 #4

The same reason ceonupe Jul 2013 #30

I'm thinking the prosecution may have looked into it Lurks Often Jul 2013 #43

the next step is a civil rights conviction and a 20 year sentence for zimmerman. Dustin DeWinde Jul 2013 #7

Sorry, but the law is the law davidn3600 Jul 2013 #18

He's obviously racist BainsBane Jul 2013 #23

no time for teabag trolls Dustin DeWinde Jul 2013 #29

"yet so blithely comment he should get no prison time" = wtf are you talking about? HiPointDem Jul 2013 #32

They can take #4 and shove it. MotherPetrie Jul 2013 #8

Truth hurts? Pelican Jul 2013 #27

People meaning you Kingofalldems Aug 2013 #59

While I too am dissappointed in the outcome of this trial, Jenoch Jul 2013 #10

bullshit. HiPointDem Jul 2013 #11

It would help with the discussion Jenoch Jul 2013 #12

no point in discussing the matter with you. bullshit is all you got. HiPointDem Jul 2013 #13

I don't know anything about Jenoch Jul 2013 #15

funny that the martins are planning to file a civil suit then, and funny that the zims are worried HiPointDem Jul 2013 #16

This is certainly not a funny Jenoch Jul 2013 #22

There is nothing precluding a civil suit... dkf Jul 2013 #24

the point is that i'm sick of your bullshit, dkf, & 'bullshit' is all i feel you deserve by way of HiPointDem Jul 2013 #25

Well that isn't helpful to anyone reading your thread. dkf Jul 2013 #34

Wrong. Mr. David Aug 2013 #49

"Stand Your Guard"? Jenoch Aug 2013 #50

The HOA settled out of court, it never went to trial. Lurks Often Jul 2013 #44

#3 won't happen, pipoman Jul 2013 #14

The last point is wrong. The judge gave applegrove Jul 2013 #21

Post removed Post removed Jul 2013 #28

Martin's parents have already settled with the HOA Boom Sound 416 Jul 2013 #35

They would have to get through a self defense hearing first. hack89 Jul 2013 #36

Interesting Boom Sound 416 Jul 2013 #37

If the judge is not a racist asshole then he or she will allow the suit to move forward Bjorn Against Jul 2013 #42

Time will tell. nt hack89 Jul 2013 #45

I don't like being told how to think or act. ananda Jul 2013 #38

Dispatcher did NOT tell Z to stay in his truck. GreenStormCloud Jul 2013 #40

Was Zimmerman at fault for shooting Martin? Vattel Jul 2013 #46

for anyone with a functioning brain, the implicit message when a police dispatcher tells you HiPointDem Aug 2013 #48

unfortunately Niceguy1 Aug 2013 #52

no, no legal obligation; but only an idiot would try to claim that the message was something HiPointDem Aug 2013 #53

amd being an idiot Niceguy1 Aug 2013 #54

being an irresponsible small-dicked idiot may be enough to lose a civil suit, though. HiPointDem Aug 2013 #55

in a perfect world, yes Niceguy1 Aug 2013 #56

Okay, I have to ask pintobean Aug 2013 #57

LOL ksoze Aug 2013 #63

The dispatcher didn't suggest that Zimmerman stay in his car. Vattel Aug 2013 #61

Biz Week is often pretty amazing Warpy Aug 2013 #51

I see the republicans jumping in to defend their boy Zimmy Kingofalldems Aug 2013 #58

+1 JustAnotherGen Aug 2013 #60