I’m still bustling at work typing out the trial minute order, but I thought I’d stop by and post a little something to say hello. Since I didn’t post all day. (You guys should be flattered I feel a stronger obligation to you than to legal or occupational responsibility.)

We’ve been busy in a civil trial last week. The plaintiff is an 18 year old who’s suing for damages acquired as a passenger in an auto accident. The driver, whom he’s suing, was a friend of his. It was a late-hour accident when the two had been out partying all night.

The photo of the car was pretty scary. The plaintiff really did sustain quite a bunch of injuries, which are verifiable on the medical bills and doctors’ testimony in evidence. The plaintiff wanted $80,000; the defendant’s last offer was $50,000. Today, we got the jury verdict. The jury awarded some monies for past and future economic damages, past and future physical pain and suffering. Their total? $65,000. They did not know about past offers and settlement negotiations, but their figure hit it right in the middle of the difference. I think that’s evidence that our justice system (sometimes) works so well, it hits the nail right on the head. My judge believes that the judge who’d tried to settle the case before we got it for trial must have tried to get the parties to meet in the middle with $65,000, but apparently one or both parties had refused. Now, the jury verdict is forcing an exact middle-of-the-line compromise.

Both sides are of course disappointed, but one judge in our building always says to parties who have just reached settlement in his courtroom, “I know that both of you are a little bit unhappy, but that is the sign of a good compromise, when both sides walk away just a bit disappointed.”