"Tort plaintiffs don't have the best reputation. Think of the often-mocked woman who sued McDonald's after she was burned by its coffee in 1992. Or, more recently, the case of one woman who sued after being overserved tequila on a Carnival cruise."
"Lawyers and lawsuits have also achieved stunning gains on behalf of the average consumer. Think of the tobacco litigation that publicized how cigarettes were poisoning Americans—a fact that Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds well knew."
"Not all litigation is perfect. Some lawyers, in fact, can and do take advantage of tort victims in order to line their own pockets. But time and time again, regular Americans who have been harmed by big business have sought redress for their harms in court."
Tort plaintiffs often face negative stereotypes, exemplified by infamous lawsuits like the McDonald's coffee case. However, litigation has led to significant consumer protections, such as tobacco lawsuits revealing health risks and Ford Pinto cases exposing dangerous design flaws. Asbestos lawsuits have provided compensation for mesothelioma victims. While some lawyers exploit the system, many have successfully sought justice for harmed individuals. Public court records and open sessions have played a crucial role in bringing consumer harms to light through litigation.
Read at Slate Magazine
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