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The Responsibility Project®. Exploring what it means to do the right thing

Tuesday Sep 07


Have We Gone Sue Crazy?

81 Comments

January 16, 2009 by Kathy McManus

If you’ve made a New Year’s resolution about personal responsibility, you might have asked yourself, “Who can I help?”

But would you ever ask, “Who can I sue?”

That question is the focus of WhoCanISue.com, an online service that matches potential clients with lawyers, while begging a different question: does the site’s blunt come-on irresponsibly encourage more lawsuits?

No, says the Miami attorney who founded WhoCanISue and sees it as the future “go-to choice when people feel they’ve been wronged and are looking for answers.”

The site is searched through suggested “grievance” categories, like Medical Malpractice, Family Law, and Accidents. If you haven’t slipped on a banana peel, perhaps you slipped on a sub-prime mortgage, which is discussed under Mortgage Fraud in the “Hot Topics” section of potential reasons to sue someone.

After answering a series of online questions, users receive a list of lawyers willing to be contacted for possible representation in a lawsuit. The service is free for potential plaintiffs, but lawyers pay to be included on the site. “I don’t think WhoCanISue.com is going to, by itself, increase the number of lawsuits there are,” says its founder, “but it may make people more aware of what their rights are.”

Critics, however, contend that WhoCanISue makes a mockery of the legal system by suggesting that lawsuits are “frivolous and an easy way to make money.”

“Frankly, the whole process is not only scary, it is bound to give the public a rancid taste in their mouths about the profession,” fumed an article in Chicago Lawyer magazine. “As if there aren’t enough lawyers out there inventing lawsuits, now we’re going to invite the public to do so,” said a prominent trial attorney of WhoCanISue. “It encourages, if not creates lawsuits.”

Tell us what you think: What’s the verdict on WhoCanISue—responsible site for the aggrieved or incubator for irresponsible lawsuits? Has suing become too easy?


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81 Comments

What do you think? Leave a comment

  • April 9, 2009 by robert gale

    is it possible to sue the government for creating a type of mind-control tactic where they can attempt to drive a person insane with psy-ops to both learn from,steal secrets from unwitting hosts that are helpless to ward off attacks that scar deeply.As well as completely ruin every future encounter with any individual they will ever meet for the rest of their lives.no matter the duration of the encounter?

    Reply

    • June 7, 2010 by fay

      I know the government should definily be sued for the tatics of different entitys using mind control on unspecting people for this purpose and hurting people ,adult and childern alike.. Where do we go from here . Keep talking about it or do something. It`s getting deeper and deeper. Is technology a mess or what ?

      Reply

  • May 31, 2009 by Barbara Albright

    Depending on what state you reside in, obtaining legal representation can be easy or next to impossible, no matter what the case involves; Malpractice, fraud, broken laws, state involvement, ---just name it. I should know, after having experienced my own personal example, after 50 years of never needing counsel nor the desire to ever institute a law suit. Frivolous? Sure there are some that make big press; how about the huge numbers that are stifled and never brought to light?

    Reply

  • June 2, 2009 by Mariah Nelson

    It's unfortunate that some people see a lawsuit like they would win a lottery. It's not, you hear about the settlements, but there is so much pain involved when someone has wronged you to the point of needing to sue. From what I have seen, a lot of these lawsuits don't result in a lifestyle change. They barely cover medical bills and what is lost is usually so much dearer than money. The lawyers seem to receive greater benefit than the plaintiff.

    Reply

    • June 28, 2009 by Anna, T. Miller

      Lawsuits are a lottery for those who deserve the reward. Why do they deserve it? Because the matter that ended up before a judge that eventually saw the merit to award in monetary form as the only way to repay the harm or wrong doing to the individual receiving your so called lottery. Get a job … you are trying to hard to do nothing. Question: Do you have 2-shoes? Good try putting the other one on for awhile.

      Reply

  • June 3, 2009 by Madeleine Tector

    I have been trying to get a lawyer to take my case for 9 months now and I've had no luck. I thought I had a very good case and it never occurred to me that a lawyer would not want to take it because it had too many liabilities. I thought that was why you sued, liabilities. I live in Illinois, and its hard to sue here which is why the Medical profession is the worst in the country in my opinion, they don't have to worry about being sued anymore. Laws have been added by George W Bush before leaving office that makes it almost impossible to sue a Dr. unless he strangles the patient in front of a crowd, even though the end result is the same, My Mother is dead due to a nursing home fiasco, bad Doctoring and a total cover up , my Mom was 86 and her age was mentioned several times, it was a nursing home, I don't think its full of teenagers. My Mother died of a staph infection and then gangrene set in, I knew nothing about this until it was too late, they had been working on her foot for almost a year, no Hospitalization and no one informed me , her daughter and Power of atty, they had her foot bandaged at all times and told me her callous was healing nicely. Most of the lawyers I spoke to grilled me as if I were a murderer, I think they mistook me for a doctor. At any rate, I think Illinois is the hardest place in the country to sue, I have never sued anyone before so I don't know how it works, but I do know in NY where I'm from originally they would be falling over each other to take this case but since I am not in NY I have to just keep looking until the two years is up and then forget about it . Something is not fair about this, I think a website that helps you in any way is a good idea, I don't think torturing and killing old ladies is frivolous,, hey! I could be wrong.

    Reply

  • June 6, 2009 by yevonne hoover

    I was fired from my job 11 months ago, because I could not afford a physical and advised my admin staff when I would be able to pay for my physical. Seven days prior to me getting the physical, I was fired and terminated stating I failed to call in/no call, no show was the reason for termination. I have tried to find a lawyer for 11 months and everyone I have spoken with refused or wanted, too much per hour for me to afford them. So, I think this is a good way for a person(s) looking for legal help to find and get the help they deserve.

    Reply

  • June 10, 2009 by Judy Anderson

    Yes, the government does that. They did it to me over a student loan.

    Reply

  • June 15, 2009 by gunnypro

    I do not think that this site will invite people to invent law suits. I also think that some people and businesses count on people not being able to find a lawyer that will take their case and act accordingly. I think the site is not only a good idea, but it’s long overdue. I thank the site for trying to help!

    Reply

  • June 25, 2009 by Carmen Daniels

    I am very overwhelmed to have found this site, and I look forward to reading information because a person that is uninformed with the correct information is a person that is going in the wrong direction. I am searching for an attorney in Business-Law Carmen A. Daniels U.S. Army

    Reply

  • June 28, 2009 by Anna, T. Miller

    "Does the site’s blunt come-on irresponsibly encourage more lawsuits?” Who cares if this site is so blunt that it may have an air of "come-on" to suggest "more lawsuits"? The entire question or statement is really funny. Yes, this is what this site has been designed exactly for: the blunt truth and it is to inspire and suggest; it is indeed to encourage everyone even the small. Take into account these when considering this narrow minded view, added as a question in topic that starts this pages relative thinking: 1. Do you know the meaning of good? If not, do some research. 2. I'm counting on the fact that the attorney I’m about to hire and or the Judge That will preside over my case(s) will know. 3. Maybe this site doesn't just promote "itself and lawyers for hire". My humble thoughts are this it makes you question yourself and your own as well as others actions. Can I sue? That’s the first question, then what next? More thinking on the old phrase of "cause and effect"? All possibly presented with " the question" start to involve yourself in some introspection; questioning ourselves, our actions, their actions, the details, the actual damages (if any), or maybe just rights or wrongs need to be heard for the sake of others and our future to be free.

    Reply

  • June 28, 2009 by Anna, T. Miller

    Comments on the article above: for one "the public is rancid all on its own! Oh no there's a shocker. And if anything to be sure! The only thing that would put a bad taste in the public’s mouth about this particular site would most likely be this stupid article! I would never have posted such an idiotic and un-patriotic rhetoric! I hope you aren't paying them whoever wrote it because this person is a PRIME example of what is wrong. The above article is and has obviously been written for the intended assumption that people are general morons and can’t think for themselves. I do realize that there are morons out there but do you really have to give those more to think about especially stuff that goes nowhere? To the writer: We are intelligent. Here's some partial wisdom, if I may: Quote (writer): Critics, however, contend that WhoCanISue makes a mockery of the legal system by suggesting that lawsuits are “frivolous and an easy way to make money.” I believe the legal system makes a mockery of its self since they (meaning those in the legal positions) have adjudicated themselves; "the beginning and the end" all “by themselves". I could point out things forever but I feel further comment is not necessary. I assume the readers get it but, do you? Oh, by the way, getting run over by a truck and loosing your spleen is not an easy way to make money ... go figure.

    Reply

  • June 28, 2009 by Anna, T, Miller

    “As if there aren’t enough lawyers out there inventing lawsuits, now we’re going to invite the public to do so,” said a prominent trial attorney of WhoCanISue. “It encourages, if not creates lawsuits.” Tell us what you think: What’s the verdict on WhoCanISue—responsible site for the aggrieved or incubator for irresponsible lawsuits? Has suing become too easy? Why in the world would you need a comment? On what exactly? Why are you so worried about how many lawsuits might graduate? There’s no such thing as "creating a Lawsuit” and never will be; at least no more than there ever has been. That’s what we pay our judges for and advice from attorneys to help us find our footing and grounds for. This, dear sir, was the alternative to killing the jerk that ran over you dog. Did your wife live in your house, never pay rent, and empty your life savings? Remember?

    Reply

  • August 1, 2009 by earnest markham

    I have a court order with my ex-wife, to see my son twice a month and to claim him on my taxes even years. Also to see him father day, and Thanksgiving or X-mas. None of the court order has been keep by my ex-wife. I do have a appointment with a lawyer. What do you think the out come will be if it have to go to court. You may ask have tried talking to her YES, it didn't help. Now, i need help. The last time i have seen my son was Novermber 2008.

    Reply



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