Show The Herald Journal Loaan Utah Thursday January Civil suits shoving out justice (NEA) — "“ Past wanna make Bl Q " Here’s how: Jump in front of a subway train ‘b Mloa' then u® transit officials for damages becausecity’ the motorman failed to stop in time to avoid causing you serious injury That bizarre scheme may appear to be highly not totally preposterous nky if threw but Milo Stephens himself onto the bracks as a train approached sued the subway system for negligence and recently received a $850000 ' ft appealing: Angeles a jury late last year ordered the Allstate Insurance Co to pay Henry Fellows and members of his family more than $40 million because Allstate refused to honor the family's $31000 claim for a 1976 accident Allstate contended that the Fellows family suffered only about $6000 in actual damages as a result of the accident but the jury apparently responded to the argument made by the family’s lawyer who said that authorising a massive damage award was the only way to properly punish a large and wealthy insurance company In compensatory damages the jury awarded broken collarbone and $5000 apiece to two nieces for minor injuries The piece deresistance however was the jury’s punitive damage award to the family of $40 million That apparently was too much for the presiding judge who agreed that "There is no question that Allstate did not do what they should have done in this case" but recently ordered that a new trial be held to reassess the damage awards The New York and California cases are only two of the most recent examples of what occurs when an increasingly litigious society places an intolerable burden on a legal system that was not designed to withstand such strain Judicial rulings in both civil and criminal cases frequently are perceived as erratic and unfor-tuante- ly Letters Continued from page II both agree that "folks" can be educated The county and the mayor's association can now proceed with their education on the law enforcement complex and the change in the form of county government Voting on both issues at the same time will benefit the taxpayers Carol W Clay Logan Thanks To the editor: Thanks to the ladies who found my wallet in the Cache Valley Mall parking lot Saturday afternoon They were so kind to take the time to turn it into the office There are many reasons why Cache Valley is such a special place to live The reasons mostly center around the people I would really like to thank you personally If that doesn’t materialize I’ll just say thanks again and hope you read this With gratitude: LaRayne B Christensen Wellsville A reply To the editor: I am writing in regard to the letter written by Suzanne Dent on "Restraints” in last Sunday’s paper Jan 8 In vivid example of those quixotic quailities A young man with a history of emotional problems and a patient at a psychiatric facility Stephens attempted to commit suicide in 1977 by lunging in front of an oncoming subway train Stephens then filed a civil suit against the New York City Transit Authority acknowledging that he had considerable responsibility for the accident but claiming that the motorman also was negligent because he failed to stop sooner A jury was being selected to consider the case recently when the Transit Authority decided it didn’t want a trial and instead offered Stephens $650000 to settle his claim That must be what Bok was talking about when he complained of a legal system that today dispenses “a spurious form of justice" that is neither equitable nor rational in 2 She chooses to do it and doesn’t want to be forced! 3 Have you ever traveled long distances with children in a car? a Its impossible for them to sleep b They can’t stay in one place for a long time 4 The law will demand and under be strapped in and she will have to pay $20 for feeding or changing them while driving What I get from her thinking is that she doesn’t really have that much love or concern for her child I have two children and from the day they came home from the hospital until now (one is 6 one is 4) they have used restraints Futhermore they make sure before we go anywhere that all have their belts and harness on Two years ago we were in an accident and because belts and restraints were used they were only shaken up As to the point that she wants to be the one to choose and shouldn't be forced to it sounds as if the life of those concerned isn't precious to her And about traveling long distances and not being able to sleep we moved here from LA four years ago and have gone back at least mice a year We drive straight through which is 16 hours in good weather and they sleep and stay in one place for that time mentions that she is afraid to low her freedom of choice if forced to abide by a restraint law At the very least what about the freedom of other citizens since she is almost as January! m A 83-‘8- a (FISCHER) 4 Examples: "U" ar "ISl" 91099 1 7 Skit IMS2W r "SvywOt ftp" Skit !’SaprCMibiH JQQ99 "SvpvHN'W'SU 10499 1 71 IbiSIM I’ltrW'ski 22999 91099 A 17 712’'JUpiMSkb LMS2SS BBERMEYER SPECIALPURCHASE! ALPINE A NORDIC LADIES DEMO DAYS ! JANUARY 29 6 29 10 am to 4 pm AT BEAVER MOUNTAIN SAT SUN 29- - Dvmv 29- - Dmm AIHm Ikh Avlv M AJplw (Ami Ififcjss MICRONIC GSE" "F-- 6 DOWN-FILLE- JUNIOR SKI PARKA with F Sill H'l In ZIP-OF- a in Cache County — for 1982 this was $1002 It is important to understand that this figure is an average of all workers and does include all part-tim- e wage earners in the There are many workers who work only a few hours a week whose wages are represented in the average county monthly wage The average monthly wage is obtained by dividing total wages reported by the total number of workers and obviously will be lower where a significant number of part-tim- e “TURBO” ALPDIE SKI BOOTS MEN (baa I I alaJu INWWVIa HIVIm Netlllflll 30 RhL atylW SM BAGS OFF REGULAR PRICE CROSS COUNTRY WEAR Knkkaru Of Wad Corduroy Poplin Stretch Knit I 30 OFF REGULAR PRICE SELECTED JACKETS A VESTS ‘TRIDENTl SNI BOOTS I 50 FOI LABES LAOIES uu aal BOOS pHHi Ml Mbt BOOT BAGS A SKI LUGGAGE ALPINE NORDICA ALPINE FOIMEU Style ENTIRE STOCK SALOMON 13-1- 4 ‘ to (tack M hand boots NORDICA 13-1- 4 2288 Meae (baa 8-- 111 Wat BOOTS “SHOE” FOR MEN A LADIES inH vcfcvtNi v wtl vvlvr alia SALOMON 13-1- 4 RAGG WOOL SWEATERS SLEEVES 69" NvfflfY thsm clarification regarding figures quoted by Gene Rasmussen and referred to by Gary Gettman in the letters column Mr Rasmussen quotes figures from the Utah Department of Employment Security regarding the average monthly wage IMroftucR 'SUPER D BANDIT s229” To the editor: bvvHwry I NvrSic Mi Svhmvv WOOL-BUN- D 59" I Ikto tvdlfvvl "FRO" STRETCH SKI PANTS SKI 000TS Clarification OFF INSULATED FULL BOOT GAIT0RS 199" TYROLIA 1238 11” B0TA BAGS 79" LKna-nKnsin- 69" niuiN OFF SB MNKS FBI MUMS V latum Ktrinam am Hyrum S Olsen Manager Logan Job Service $199 Rag SIM nmarfipu 40 SKI WAXIR BURNER A IRON oral sons IMKSFNITDinUIEb LOOK 'PRIMUS" uirar 89" Silt RtVTtS29ll BINDINGS ’ 14 179" IM nil “Mir MfKUCMIMKS workers are represented i I LADIES SKI PARKAS ALPINE SKIS make MENS Wml Mary and George Tarke Hyrum would like to mrcasmG 'Jig likely to cause an accident while changing or feeding her child as the drunk drivedr she is so concerned about I honestly hope that citizens reading her letter will encourage their legislators to force people “to buckle up" If anything people’s disregard for other’s rights is a good example of the need to enforce a child restraint law Besides isn't is also illegal to attmept suicide? I h si "mNESKB' Newspaper Enterprise Assn "sometimes" She Spring Prices properly "The blunt inexcusable fact is that this nation which prides itself on efficiency and justice has developed a legal system that is the most expensive in the world yet cannot manage to protect the rights of most of its citizens" harvard University President Derek C Bok noted last year A lawyer himself and a farmer dean of the Harvard Law School Bok elaborated in his annual report: "Our legal system leads to much waste of money that could be put to better purposes The law may seem enlightened and humane but its constant stream of rules will leave a wake strewn with the disappointed hopes of those who find the legal system too complicated to understand too quixotic to command respect and too expensive to be of much practical use" The court case here provides an unusually She states: 1 I strap my N Robert Walters h Xtashhgton idosyncratic rather than fair and just The courts become the forum tor resolving disputes which should be settled through arbitration negotiation or conciliation Finally the legal system loses the respect it must have to function settlement If you like that anecdote about a run amok here’s another one legal system you'll find $200000 to Fellows for whiplash $250000 to his wife for a broken arm $40000 to a son for a MID-SEASO- 26 1984—19 s 54" Uat MS BINDINGS gHH NUBS “iriipu fiPM mrATtumm am HPHSBINWSnB FIB aranuMS UatllM SKI PARKAS mrflSEBSflr’ Our Everyday Bmnouii BEcaumouLsans Uat 113 Low UctSlIS Prices! 89" 79" 64" m 0Jil SKI PACKAGES ROSSIGNOL "HIATUS" iiram "Mntywp TyrvNv "SM" MAI Taber" ar Cabar "IT" ar Saieaiea "22" SivSivft NvrMcv Matter Palate ar Kenaa “Delta" laab list $411 AjtaAlAA V IubaHo ALPINE SKI PACKAGE rmitiw mmAlerter ar Tyralla ”IStD"SMivfv 259s5 List $497 L- -- JoOOo DooOu RaHei "MAU Palate BwSoeoOoooO Ski OuwOoNoOOobr tala OL TosoOp 279" Juulof CUP Al” TUNE-U- P ALPINE SKI SPECIAL ‘FLAT FILE "SIDE FILE I "HOT WAX Mat tadvSaS) list S2S69S Sfclo IF Per Pair Limit 2 Pain Per Coupon Expires hstfingers SELECTED SKI SUITS FOR MEN i LADIES Famous Maker Itg to $251 AM 585NoMain fiSM&udfi I Sfck A Cample te Includes- - Tuna-U- p V I Tadtaklaaa Give Yaw JUNIOR RACING PACKAGE "Af Caber" Alfalfa" Seefi Marlur Scan w Serf SMMee TyvoMo COUPON— -- Oar Eipait Ilat Tare Up Wltti Hie Lataat SU lltap E(vlpmawtl N FBTCJIVfllZ "W0ILD LARGE CARS Ust $7995 f SKI 69” —— or SM "M-2- CoAoo "408" or "409" LOCKING RACKS FOR MEDIUM "®T" UUPelee aMaalAad jsm SportRack ALPINE SKI PACKAGE MVamVtM I I I I I I J |