CALA Slingshots : Punitive Damages
Award is Off Richter Scale
The $4.8 billion punitive award in the recent General Motors case is absurd and off the Richter scale. The victims, parked at a stop sign, were rear-ended by a drunk driver at 70 mph. Yet, the jury was not allowed to consider that fact; only whether GM should have better engineered their cars to withstand such an impact. Considering safety first, the best engineering we could do is to keep drunk drivers off the road. Lives would most assuredly be saved. Unfortunately, this verdict - affirmed or reduced - will do little to improve the safety of motorists.

Jon Opelt
Executive Director
Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse


Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse
2500 City West Boulevard, Suite 300 • Houston, Texas 77042
E-mail: sosueme@calahouston.org • Administrative: (713) 267-2302 • Fax: (713) 267-2267