[Dog Gone]

Sure, but my point is that the government can squeeze money out of companies any time it wants to, even under the current system. They don't even have to win a court case to do it.

A major incentive for the trial lawyers is the prospect of punitive damages. I'm trying to take that away.

If you do something bad and damage me, you should be forced to pay for it. That makes me whole. There's no logic that dictates that I should also get millions of dollars extra to split with my attorney. All that system does is make me hope that you damage me, so that I can win the equivalent of the Lotto.

[big gray tabby]

That is a sound and thoughtful suggestion that ought to be part of a wholistic approach to tort reform.

Another would be to take all your colleagues out of their offices and flay them with knotted horsewhips, throw them into boiling salt water and then push them out to sea on flaming rafts.

And then just laugh and laugh. We'll spare those of you not perpetuating or defending this excuse for a civil system.