Frivolous Lawsuits

The U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform is circulating an internet petition to put an end to frivolous lawsuits.

Some of the suits they are questioning:

Woman walking track sues railroad

A woman who suffered minor injuries when she was hit by a train while walking along railroad tracks is suing the railroad for more than $30,000 because she says the railroad didn't warn people that trains were likely to travel on the tracks she was walking along.

Injured Kmart Shopper

Janette Weiss, a 54-year old part-time cafeteria worker, decided to take the bottom box in a blender display stack. After they fell on her, she sued Kmart claiming pain and carpal tunnel syndrome. The case took more than three years to resolve, but a jury this fall took just half an hour to rule for Kmart.

A woman sues Lowes Garden Center, claiming she was attacked by bird

An Illinois woman claimed in a suit filed Wednesday in Madison County Circuit Court that a bird attacked and seriously injured her while she was shopping at an outside gardening area of a Lowes Hardware store. She is seeking over $50,000 in damages.

In this country you can pretty much sue anyone over anything without repercussions for burdening the court system or saddling defendants with undeserved legal fees. The Institute's petition seeks to gain reform on the abuse of our court system for these frivolous suits.

I'm sure it will be an uphill battle, but every bit of energy spent on this issue is commendable.