It's things like this that make me want to drive all lawyers into the ocean.

What's the difference between a carp and a lawyer?

One's a scum sucking, bottom dredging parasite and the other one's a fish.

More here....

I'm surprised that this isn't a class action.

Oh please. Anyone can file suit for anything. Doesn't mean it will go anywhere. Wake me if they win, which I doubt.

shouldn't turn into yet another way to bleed a business in court.

I get that the issue is frivolous lawsuits costing defendants money - but I doubt this will even get as far as a hearing. "Unspecified damages", lawyers not available for comment? It'll get thrown out very early I hope.

Someone is at fault here. The little bastard that robbed the shop and then ran him over.. Everyone else is a bystander..

Even if the case is thrown out on summary adjudication, the cost of getting the case to that point isn't cheap and more likely than not, the lawyers for Starbucks' insurance company will make an offer to settle the case, confidentially of course, even if they think they can get the case dismissed. So even if the family doesn't hit pay dirt, it will still cost anywhere from $20-$50k to get the case "thrown out." Now whether those legal fees are reasonable or not, is a debate for another day.

I feel awful that the guy died. But who told him to chase the bad guy for $5?! That was a choice he made all on his own and as tragic as it is, there are consequences for his actions. Just as there are consequences for the thief, who is now up on manslaughter charges.

Someone is at fault here. The little bastard that robbed the shop and then ran him over.. Everyone else is a bystander

Right?? And the little shit only got one year in jail?? That's some kind of justice, all right. /sarc

I was living in St. Louis when this happened. So sad. Right after it happened, the city got plastered with stills from the security footage in hopes someone would recognize the kids in the video.

Somewhat related: My sister also worked in a coffee shop in St. Louis, right by a light rail station. The tip jar got stolen a few times a week by kids who would run in, grab the tip jar in one fluid motion, run out, and time it all so they could run onto a waiting train and disappear.

Eventually, the owner DID decide to secure the tip jar by nailing it to the counter. And then all the workers watched in amusement when the kids would run in, grab the tip jar, and get tripped up by their own momentum when it didn't budge. A few, apparently, took spectacular tumbles. I'm sure it wouldn't take much time at all for a would-be thief to sue because he got hurt when trying to steal the tip jar.

Some people look at life like a lottery.

"Some people look at life like a lottery."

All it takes is getting a little settlement, like say for Work Comp, and the light bulb goes off - man this is great! EZ money!" then they're always looking for causes of action. I ran more than one of these jerks out of my office. They're the worst clients.

"Some people look at life like a lottery."

. . . are you certain that it isn't?

I see the point being made, and agree, but I was struck by a truth revealed that can sometimes be elusive.

. . . oh - and Carol?

Thanks.

-Rm

The worst thing about this is the man who chased after the thief sounds like he was a decent guy who was trying to right an injustice. Somehow I don't imagine that he was the kind of person who would file such a lawsuit himself.

JonnyT, I agree... but that guy's dead. One of his relatives obviously is that kind of person.

LTW writes: "I get that the issue is frivolous lawsuits costing defendants money - but I doubt this will even get as far as a hearing. "

Yeah but... Starbucks will still have to spend thousands of dollars in legal fees having to defend itself. The prospect of the lawsuit being thrown out on summary judgment (which I guarantee you won't happen) won't discourage the plaintiff's attorneys for a millisecond. I'll tell you what would: a summary award of damages to the defendant for frivolous prosecution, plus the plaintiff's representative spending 90 days as a guest of the state for gross contempt of court. That will never, ever, ever, ever, ever happen. Judges are lawyers first, and they will never levy that kind of punishment on one of their own tribe.

" JonnyT, I agree... but that guy's dead. One of his relatives obviously is that kind of person."

@Cousin Dave, of course that's true. I just found it ironic since the people suing make it sound as if they're acting on his behalf. When I followed one of Amy's links, I was even more surprised to see his family members include the thief who stole the money to a memorial tree dedication for the victim. They believe the thief didn't intend for things to end up this way and chose to forgive him. Yet according to them Starbucks should have seen it all coming. The whole thing is simultaneously sad and strange to me.

Yeah but... Starbucks will still have to spend thousands of dollars in legal fees having to defend itself.

Sad but true, Cousin Dave (and sara who made the same point). I'll concede that. Sometimes these things are just done for publicity then quietly dropped - but just as often it ends up costing someone a lot of money.

I'd like to catch the lawyer in a parking lot and run over his head.

We need to start picketing these ambulance chasers like the pro-lifers and the unions picket their opponents.

I'm always reluctant to come out against all of any profession as universally bad, including lawyers. I just think making blanket statements about anyone is too easy. If I ever get hauled into court for anything larger than a speeding ticket, those evil heartless lawyers are suddenly going to look pretty good to me.

And let's not forget that lawyers aren't filing these frivilous lawsuits by themselves. Someone had to hire them with the hopes of making a fast buck, or the lawsuits wouldn't exist. We're kind of an oppotunistic society.