Court (and out-of-court) settlements that suck

[MRT144]

Its not bribery if its court sanctioned bribery

[Sava]

I think you meant "freedom".

[MrFun]

If a corporation does it, it's not wrong.

QFT and for posterity

[C0ckney]

It might be better than the alternative. Giant corporations feel much more comfortable paying a small settlement than taking the chance of paying a very large reward. However, this is based on an irrational view of probability. The statistics indicate that companies would probably dish out less money over all if they went to court every time rather than settle, because the odds of the ruling being negative (for them) are usually pretty small.

it may not be irrational. a company can settle, pay a (relatively) small amount and the problem is forgotten about quickly. as pchang points out, they may also be able to prevent disclosure as part of such an agreement. a long drawn out case on the other hand, even if the company ultimately wins, may bring lots of negative publicity.

[Dauphin]

That's what most of the big banks and "financial institutions" do when ever they're caught committing a criminal act. I remember reading (though I haven't fact checked it but it sounds true) that no financial type person has been found guilty of any wrong doing since the 1987 financial crisis. When you have enough money in the US you get away scot free.

WTF? This is demonstrably false.

You may be thinking about deferred prosecutions, completely misunderstanding what they are and making assumptions that everyone else gets away with it?

[MrFun]

In Iceland, bankers can be thrown in jail for their crimes.

[Dauphin]

Sounds like a phrase password from a really bad spy drama.

[regexcellent]

In Iceland, bankers can be thrown in jail for their crimes.

People can be thrown in jail for their crimes everywhere (or fined, or executed, or whatever). That's why it's called a "crime."

[Dinner]

for Guy:

I'd hit it. She'd get a wet sticky load.

[Ben Kenobi]

Here's the thing: when cash is allowed to substitute for guilt, the cost of the settlement is just passed along to consumers. So the people who got screwed end up paying for the privilege by getting screwed again. That's fundamentally unfair, and may be a core indicator of how our "free" market has been co-opted.

See any Pintos around?

[Sava]

no, but I see a puto

[pchang]

I see about 10 million GM cars that should have been recalled a long time ago and no GM execs being prosecuted or put in jail.

[Sava]

wow you sound like you belong on continuum

[Tuberski]

You sound like you belong on Prozac!!!!

ACK!

[pchang]

Yes, if I get to bang Lexa Doig.