Re: Re[2]: MONITORING UNIVERSITY HEALTH

[tdc@ehssun.lbl.gov (Ted M. de Castro)]

At the risk of going WAY off topic:

>>A cap won't do it, IMHO.  Having the loser pay all (or a reasonable
>>fraction) of the attorneys fees and court costs would go a long way to
>>solving it, but the root of the problem, again IMHO, is irresponsible JURY
>>MEMBERS (NOT judges, attorneys, etc.) who just can't wait to trash them 
>>big rich 'ol corporations and give the proceeds to that poor guy with the
>>leukemia (or the broken back, burned hands, etc., pick your favorite
>>>malady).  As much as I like to bash attorneys, the fault lies with US 
>>(i.e. the general public).

I beg to differ!  I've been on several juries and at least on those - ANY 
irrationality is due to the Judge who tells the jury what the law is and HOW 
that is to be interpreted.  During the deliberations of any jury I have been 
on the judges IMPERITIVES weight VERY heavily and decisions are measured up 
against that NO MATTER HOW WE MAY FEEL ABOUT IT.

I have no idea how the popular notion has arisen that once the jurors get 
into deliberation and out of sight and earshot that wild opinion and 
speculation reigns and random verdicts are reached.

We were NOT always satisfied or happy with our verdicts - but felt we had no 
options under the constaints the judge laid out.  We usually came away with 
lots of hard feelings against the judge and the system.