Statistics Offer Yardstick for “Unreasonable” Jury Awards

William Sawyer was 25 years old, unmarried and living with his father in rural Idaho. He often visited his mother, who lived nearby, and frequently spent time with his father in outdoor activities. While William was driving to visit his mother, his pickup truck was...

Some Juries Award Far Too Little for Injuries, Death

Recent news reports have described notable instances of juries awarding large sums of money in seemingly irrational ways.  These accounts are distressing to many of us, especially when we are told that runaway jury verdicts are responsible for the rapidly rising...

Lawyer Fees Unreasonable? Arbitrate Them

Even reasonable people can disagree about the reasonableness of fees charged for professional services. Purchasing professional services, such as medical and legal services, is not like buying a bar of soap. We know where to find soap, what type we want and,...

Justice Courts Can Be Effective in Resolving Disputes

Most disputes between individuals involve a comparatively small dollar amount. These disputes can be handled easily in Justice Court or its Small Claims Division. Although the process can be time-consuming, it is not complex and court personnel are generally very...