I beg to differ. I served on a jury, and they gave us a little tape to educate us in the process. One of the interesting things (and I have no reason to believe the county is lying about this), they said, was that lawsuits per capita are lower than they have been since the mid 19th century. Contrary to doc Holiday and the OK Coral stories we didn't shoot each other in the old west, we sued each other. Still happens, but not as often if the stats they told us were true.
There has been a significant consolidation in the reinsurance business. Aircraft insurance has gone up about 30 percent in 3 years, that's 10%/year. Marine insurance the same, for pleasure and business non-commercial use. Commercial aircraft insurance much more, like about double. My business indemnity policy (never start a business while you're in med school!) and worker's comp has gone up roughly 40% corresponding with the same decrease in returns in the stock market. My actuary buddies say this is not a coincidence. My corporate atty agrees.
Not an area I'm an expert on, but I spend (personal, business and healthcare - I buy a group policy for about 15 people, no hmos in my company!) a wheelbarrel full of money on insurance. By the way, what's a plaintiff's attorney?
