THE DEVIL’S GREATEST TRICK TORT REFORM The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world that he didn’t exist. For years, insurance companies have pushed ad campaigns and marketing efforts encouraging tort reform. Pointing to frivolous lawsuits, insurance companies have tried to convince the public that tort reform is a necessity. In fact, the reality is quite different. If you or a loved one has been in an accident, you may understand why tort reform is not good for anyone except the insurance companies. We have all heard stories of frivolous cases, which have been parodied in movies and television for decades. The McDonald’s coffee case was an ongoing joke on late night television shows and continues to live on as part of pop culture folklore. However, the true details of the case never made headlines. The woman who sued McDonald’s suffered third-degree burns (the most serious kind) and required skin grafts on her inner thighs and elsewhere. McDonald’s received more than 700 previous reports of injuries from its coffee, including reports of third-degree burns, and had paid settlements in some cases. The woman offered to settle the case for $20,000 to cover her medical expenses and lost income. However, McDonald’s refused and never offered more than $800, so the case went to trial. The jury found the woman to be partially at fault for her injuries, reducing the compensation for her injuries accordingly. However, the jury, upset by McDonald’s unwillingness
to correct a policy despite hundreds of people suffering injuries, awarded the woman nearly $3 million in punitive damages, which made headlines. Ultimately, the woman and McDonald’s reached a confidential settlement to avoid years of appeals and uncertainty. Truth be told, most people who are injured simply want to get their medical bills paid so they don’t have a mountain of debt due to an accident that wasn’t their fault. Most injury attorneys I speak with are in favor of measures to restrict frivolous lawsuits. However, frivolous lawsuits are the exception, not the rule. While insurance companies may want to convince the public otherwise, frivolous lawsuits have harsh consequences and subject any attorney filing one to sanctions and potential discipline. In the upcoming 2020 legislative session, we are expecting to see a renewed tort reform push to limit medical malpractice damages and reduce attorneys fees for workers' compensation claims along with several other measures. Many of these measures were previously struck down by the Florida Supreme Court. However, emboldened by the appointment of three new Florida Supreme Court justices, insurance companies are expected to take another crack at tort reform. We will keep you posted throughout the year as the legislative session unfolds.
BACON-WRAPPED CHESTNUTS MOE'S MUNCHIES
BREAK TAKE A
INGREDIENTS
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1/4 cup coconut sugar
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2 8-oz cans water chestnuts
1 lb sliced bacon, quartered
Tamari (wheat-free soy sauce), but can substitute with coconut aminos
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat an oven to 400 F. 2. Place a wire rack on a baking sheet lined with parchment and set aside. 3. Drain liquid from canned water chestnuts, add tamari to cover, and let soak for 15 minutes in the cans. 4. Drain tamari, roll each chestnut in coconut sugar, wrap with bacon, and spear on toothpick. 5. Place chestnuts on prepared rack. Bake for 30–35 minutes. 6. Plate and serve.
Inspired by “Paleo Happy Hour” by Kelly Milton
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