Frivolous lawsuits prove discouraging

Only 16% of American adults trust the legal system to defend them against baseless claims, maintains a survey commissioned by Common Good and conducted by Harris Interactive. Moreover, 54% do not trust the legal system, and 76% agree that fear of frivolous lawsuits discourages people from performing normal activities.

"The fact that a mere 16% of American adults trust the legal system to defend them against baseless claims is quite a stunning indictment of American justice," asserts Philip K. Howard, chair of Common Good, New York. "This explains why legal fear has replaced Americans' freedom to use their common sense. To rebuild the public's trust, we must restore reliability to our system of justice."

Other findings include:

* 83% agree that the legal system makes it is far too easy to file invalid claims.

* 43% agree that the overall effects of the system on society are reasonable.

* 33% agree that the system provides timely and reliable resolutions of disputes.

* 56% think that there are fundamental changes needed to make the civil justice system work better; 12% feel the system has to be rebuilt completely.

* 48% strongly agree that attorneys who take on lawsuits that are frivolous should be fined.

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COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning