Lawsuits aren’t fun.
At best they’re draining and distracting – especially against big companies with tough legal teams. (Trust me.) Federal courts have now raised the bar even to reach the “discovery” phase of suits, where plaintiffs can see documents relevant to their claims.
No, lawsuits aren’t fun. No one sues a Fortune 500 company for kicks.
But sometimes they’re are necessary. Except, apparently, when it comes to vaccines1.
In its infinite wisdom, in 1986, Congress passed a law making it nearly impossible for any American to sue pharmaceutical companies over vaccine injuries. Instead, it routed all claims to a special federal court program that would judge possible injuries on a “no-fault” basis and compare them to a prespecified list of injuries.
Hellbound and Down 