Thoughts on the social benefits of the torts system

The Pop Tort blog has a comment here on the deterrence function of the torts system and on recent developement in Tennessee (new law that will "cap" damages and limit the legal accountability of nursing homes for abuse and neglect)  and New York (a proposal for “caps” on compensation for people killed or injured due to negligence in city hospitals and for other city misconduct in order to save the city money).