BMW sued over teens death in locked car.

[Shark1007]

I can't comment about your buddies story, sounds awful. I just know that trying cases for 30 years and never having the inclination to put dollars over dignity and professionalism and become a billboard or bus stop lawyer, I think we have the best system in the world.

Judges don't commonly award damages here in Florida, it's the province of a jury. I'm wondering if your buddy embellished the story just a tad?

In any event, the law now requires the lawyer and the client to each pay half if they file a frivolous case. We have tightened up on the bad apples, but not tight enough. The public has no litmus test to see if a lawyer is competent and real lawyers don't take bogus cases because 1/3 of zero is zero. The days of suing someone or getting an insurance company to cough up nuisance money are long gone in my experience.

Florida has "comparative negligence" which allows a jury to find each party partially at fault. In your example above BMW could be partially at fault and the brother half or any percentage.

There is a bad practice of confidential settlements these days. It allows a manufacturer to settle a claim, perhaps not wanting the public to know or word to get out about a defect. This defeats a purpose of the system and there are folks working to prohibit these type things.

Maybe I'm getting soft in my old age, but I would never escape the horror of thinking my child died because she couldn't open the door from the inside. I'd relive it every day.

[skosh69]

Shark, you make too much sense to continue. Your last statement says it all.

Thanks for your insight and thoughts.

Regarding my buddy, remember where we live, Commifornia, land of lawyers and liberals.

[Shark1007]

Thank you. I'm often so frustrated by the system, many of my cohorts take the low road and it hurts the legit people.

We have room for ya in my neck of the woods.

[skosh69]

Sounds good, y'all need some pino's in Florida.

Hey, I didn't mean anything by what I said about "lawyers and liberals", you being a lawyer and all. I meant to say "ambulance chasers", there's a BIG difference in the two. Your type try to help people, the latter tries to screw people.

[GD2A]

Originally Posted by skosh69

Sounds good, y'all need some pino's in Florida.

Hey, I didn't mean anything by what I said about "lawyers and liberals", you being a lawyer and all. I meant to say "ambulance chasers", there's a BIG difference in the two. Your type try to help people, the latter tries to screw people.

My wife is a lawyer and a liberal ... makes for some interesting dinner conversations here

Poor thing, she never imagined that one day she would share a home with guard dogs, guns and a guy that cancels her every vote!

[Shark1007]

I'm with ya, pal. No offense taken. I hate ambulance chasers more than most folks, that's why I hang with gun guys, car guys and offshore fishermen.

My wife's a lawyer too and I try to avoid too much shop talk. This morning all we discussed was her anticipating and pulling shots to the left at the range at 0700. Sadly, although she shoots a 1911 well, I think she would forget to snick the safety in an emergency. Now I get my New Agent back.

[Gatorade]

Had a 96 325i great car and yes it had the double locking system. It also had the manual stalks in the door to lock and unlock from the inside. My biggest question was what was supposed to happen when she woke up? There is no way to lock the car without the key. So was she going to wake up, get out and leave the car unlocked? Those cars are sill at high risk for theft because of the genuie BMW parts cost. So what was going to happen when she woke up?