Why can't we all just get along, like they do in Hawaii?

This is a truly remarkable statistic: in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008 there were only 17 civil jury trials in Hawaii's trial courts as parties on both sides of legal disputes seemed to seek faster and cheaper ways to resolve their differences. Is this a good thing? It is hard to tell. We need more information. After all, litigation, in and of itself, is not a bad thing. In fact, often, it is a very good thing. I don't know why there are so few trials in Hawaii. Maybe the legal system is too expensive, maybe they have rules that make it difficult for people to get access to the courts, maybe people can't afford legal representation... who knows. Or, maybe there are fewer accidents in Hawaii, fewer cases of malpractice, more attorneys adept at finding alternative ways to resolve disputes, etc. From reading the article, it sounds like a combination of factors. It would be interesting to find out more. Go here for the full story. Thanks to Tort Deform Blog for the info.