Why are americans so litigious!?

Question

Honestly why has litigation become such an american trend!

"Ill sue your a.ss"


I'm sure in many cases like say a single mother had an accidnet and needed compensation to help out with her losses!

but like those fat americans that sued maccy d's for "making them fat"

Answer 1

heard about that american who sued winnebago for thousands? he was driving it then went into the back to make a cup of tea. it crashed. apparently winnebago didn't state clear enough in the manual that when you put it on auto cruise you still have to drive the vehicle! stupid stupid people

Answer 2

Because the lawyers want to make money. It's fairly pathetic really, they dismantle playgrounds now because someone might fall off a swing and get hurt and sue, as if no one ever took a tumble and lived to tell the tale. I managed to damage myself on a regular basis as a kid and have even burnt my mouth on pizza or the occasional cup of coffee as an adult, but it never occurred to me (or my parents) to sue over something so minor.

It's not all Americans by the way. We laugh at the people suing fast food places - I mean really, is it a surprise that junk food in huge quantities makes you fat? All one has to do is look at the size of the people eating there to realise that it's not the healthiest food around. I think some just can't accept responsibility or just want to make some easy money.

Answer 3

Us Americans are just as disgusted (as a whole) as you with the current trend, we're not all super-litigious.

There's actually that case where the guy is sueing a dry-cleaning service for several million dollars because they lost (and later returned) a pair of pants.

There are cases where litigation is obviously neccessarry, but the lawsuit has become an overused weapon. (Such as people suing McDonalds for 'making them fat' or suing a cigarette company for giving them cancer - that's the consumer's fault in the end).

It's sick.

Answer 4

I agree with you on the merit of you argument. But the lawsuit itself has merit as well......

Think about it, the only reason that you feel it is ridiculous is on the presumption that fast food is unhealthy....which is true....however The FDA requires nutritional labeling to go on food, what make fast food any different. It is not the fact that I am aware of what I am putting in my body, but how much of it am I. When the nutritional labeling finally came out on fast food products, look at what the corporations did....Started serving salads and offer healthy alternatives to what they knew was an unhealthy product.

I do understand thought the underlying question.. and the simple answer is that there are a lot of "Something For Nothing" people who want it easy.

Answer 5

Compensation culture - unfortunately we're heading the same way in the UK - you only have to see the law firms advertising on the TV, e.g. injury lawyers etc
It seems that everyone wants to blame someone else for an accident and try to get compensation from them!

Answer 6

Hello,

Because the courts and litigation lawyers make law suits like a lottery windfall.

Michael

Answer 7

Most people are trying to get something for nothing !!! They try to make a living out of suing !!! Of course I don't know why that fat cat Judge sued the cleaners for losing his pants !!!!! Wasn't that ridiculous !!!!

Answer 8

Hate to break it to you but not ALL Americans are like that. There are people EVERYWHERE looking to make a fast buck.

Answer 9

Because our culture, and consequently our legal system, is too pragmatic and doesn't stand by it's original principles.

Answer 10

Americans do not like to compromise it is there way or the highway.