Greed in America's Court System

James Frey's novel A MillionLittlePieces is about to break him up into $2.35 million. His readers have charged him in court with falsifying his memoirs. So much for creative license.

I don't understand what has happened to America.

When I was a teenager my Dad was in the backseat of a VW bug that was rear ended and hit the car in front of them. My father broke his neck in three places and was in traction in the hospital for quite awhile. I can remember money being tighter than usual with my parents having five children. My father refused to sue even though he was encouraged by others to do so. His principles told him and his children as well that what happened was an accident. You shouldn't benefit from someone's misfortune.

I had a neighbor whom we called Jesus because he wore his hair long when the style where I lived on the coast was a buzz cut. He had been involved in a car accident and had gained a large settlement. He had purchased the property next to ours and preceded to buy up all kinds of lawn care equipment and jet skis even though he was supposedly disabled from the collision. I had a run in with him right off the bat which was the beginning of a long standing feud. He wanted to argue with me where my property line began from day one. He threatened to sue me numerous times. Once was over the limbs from my pine tree overhanging his drive and dropping sap on his brand new 4x4. I suggested he move the vehicle a couple feet over or even a cover. His immediate reaction was to give me his standard see you in court. Not many days passed without his meeting me as I returned home from work with a list of new grievances. One day, a local attorney who lived in our neighborhood stopped by to retrieve her Labrador who always ended up at my doorstep. When I mentioned the troubles I was having with Jesus she immediately said "Why don't you sue him? His building up of his lawn has obviously caused erosion to your yard." I wasn't raised to behave like that. The last I saw of Jesus when he finally moved away to torment someone else he drove off in his off the show room floor Corvette.

Sadly, I think we all know of someone who has been involved in a lawsuit. When my Great-Grandparents were alive their seven year old son was hit and killed by a street car in Chicago, Illinois. They came to this country as poor immigrants and worked hard for everything they earned. My relatives were awarded money for their son's death that they never touched. My Grandmother said as far as she knew it still sat in a bank somewhere.

Recently, a friend was telling me about someone she knew who had been injured in high school during cheer leading practice. The parent's of the girl sued and she was a rich lady when she grew up and reached maturity to spend her money. Now, she is married with children of her own. She purchased a Hummer for her daughter for her sweet sixteen. Her daughter, who was on the phone and listening to her IPod, didn't notice the train coming in her direction. Not to worry, it was an Arnold stamp of approval vehicle after all. She's still all in one piece. No doubt, they had their lawyer on speed dial.