I haven't seen or read much lately that would bring me out of my winter blues isolative and stuporous behavior until I clicked on my normal newspaper readings this morning.

Brian Dickerson of the Free Press is ragging on the "uppity class". Seems Brian is still a sore losing Dem because he starts off his article with this:

We have way too many lawsuits in this country. Everyone says so. Well, OK -- maybe not everyone. But the people getting sued are plenty upset, and now a president flush with political capital (and political debts to deep-pocket defendants) is rushing to their rescue.

Come on Brian get your tunnel vision off the Republicans, jump off your whine throne and ask Joe Blow America how "frivolous lawsuits" are affecting them. Wait let me offer up a few lawsuits I am involved in or have been involved in over the last three years:

1. Employee found sleeping on the job and terminated. Over $10,000 in attorney fees.

2. Employee witnessed physically and verbally abusing a patient and terminated. At $15,000 and climbing at this point.

3. An alert, oriented, competent patient refuses to eat, drink or move out of bed despite intense family, medical and psychiatric intervention. Patient finally becomes dehydrated and delusional enough the durable power of attorney kicks in and family over rides the advance directives and sends the patient to the hospital. Patient dies 7 days later. Family sues nursing home. Cost? Tens of thousands and climbing.

4. ( I have 2 of these suits pending.) Alert, oriented, competent patient falls and fractures (leg, hip). Family sues just because they can.

5. Employee refuses to do a routine assignment, physically threatens supervisor and is terminated. $15,000 in attorney fees so far and climbing.

I could go on with at least 5 more, but what's the point. The above amounts is just attorney fees that I know of so far. Not counting in lost time and wages for employees who has to testify or give depositions etc.

So Brian as your tunnel vision is only looking at the big boys at the top of their game, don't forget the smaller businesses that's that backbone of this country. Don't forget the Joe Blows.

Damn I forgot to mention insurance premiums. Oh well, maybe next time.