yet another step forward in the civil rights movment

[roaaahhh]

thats why tom girardi who negotiated the erin brockovich deal is worth 500 million

ps [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]toys b us indeed

[LionelHutz00]

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They are seeking compensatory and punitive damages of at least $200 million each on behalf of the class.

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Ok I dont know a huge amount about this thing so someone explain how this warrants that much money to be paid out?

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In theory, punitive damages exist because of market failures. They don't exist because the plaintiff "deserves" the money; they exist because of their deterrent effect on the defendant. In this case, 99.9% of potential plaintiffs aren't going to sue ToysRUs for discriminating against black people, since the justice system is hard to deal with and it's just too much trouble. So, (in theory) punitive damages deter companies from discriminating against black people.

That's in most cases. I'm not sure how it would work here theoretically because it's a class action suit, which kinda takes that uncompensated-plaintiff thing into account. Maybe someone who actually finished law school can elaborate. (kniper?)

oh yeah also, in practice, the big punitive damages figure is just being used by the plaintiff's lawyer to get a better settlement ldo.

[felix83]

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This is obviously a fake story, because black people shop at Toys B Us.

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A+

Also, LOL at American justice system. Great place to visit, sucks to have to live with this [censored].

[Dankenstein]

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oh yeah also, in practice, the big punitive damages figure is just being used by the plaintiff's lawyer to get a better settlement ldo.

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Yeah, that makes sense. Go with a big number so settling out of court for a few million seems like a deal.