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Post by sadie on Dec 22, 2011 9:34:47 GMT -5
 HOUSTON — A jury in Texas has awarded $150 billion in damages to the family of a man who died 12 years after he was horrifically burned on his eighth birthday in what is reportedly the largest personal injury award in U.S. history. Lawyer Craig Sico said his clients don't expect to collect any of the $150 billion judgment. Instead, they hope it will help persuade prosecutors to seek charges against a man they say doused Robbie Middleton with gasoline and set him on fire. Middleton survived his horrific injuries for 12 years before dying last year of a rare form of skin cancer, which attorneys argued was related to the extensive burns. Sico and Middleton's family said they now hope for a renewed investigation of Don Wilburn Collins, who Middleton accused of attacking him. Collins never faced criminal charges in Middleton's case, in part, prosecutors said, because of inconsistencies in the evidence and difficulty obtaining information from such a young victim. Sex offender Now 26, Collins is in prison for an unrelated sexual assault conviction against another 8-year-old boy and for failing to register as a sex offender. He is to be released next year. He did not appear in court during the civil trial and no attorney appeared on his behalf. for more: www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45761980/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/ |
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Post by sadie on Dec 22, 2011 9:36:02 GMT -5
The story is tragic. As his family member I would be grief stricken and angry.
But what exactly does this award even mean and what message does it really send?
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Post by beth on Dec 22, 2011 13:19:05 GMT -5
hmmmm ,,, maybe that more effort should have been made to prosecute the man who the victim said attacked him?
The article says the family do not expect to actually collect money ... just hope to see justice done.
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Post by sadie on Dec 22, 2011 14:40:26 GMT -5
I would think that with the horrific nature of this crime there was every effort. Maybe someone will come forward that will help put the pieces together for law enforcement. The incident happened in an isolated wooded area. The story goes on to say that he said "some kids threw gas on him", then "Don did it".....then 12 years later before his death he stated that this person (who was 13 at the time) sexually assaulted him two weeks before the horrible incident.
It does seem this guy is probably responsible.....he has continued to offend........just too many people seem to think that all cases are like CSI. Juries are even expecting that type of evidence and acquitting people when the prosecution doesn't have it, even with other evidence that is pretty solid.
I struggle with the concept of people getting multi-million dollar awards for injuries/loss/etc. Yes....there has been loss and compensation should be given.......it just seems like we are using the courts as a lottery system......who's loss is worth more.....should there be a menu....the loss of a foot equals this much.....the loss of a life is worth what......is a person on welfare worth less than the president of a company?
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Post by sadie on Dec 22, 2011 14:45:51 GMT -5
Let me just add.....if I was related to this child.....I probably would have tried to kill the guy myself....
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Post by fretslider on Dec 22, 2011 16:39:54 GMT -5
Regardless of the horrific nature of this, $150 billion is a silly figure and it only makes the justice system look stupid
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Post by sadie on Dec 23, 2011 11:36:49 GMT -5
"Sico said he asked jurors to make a statement in the case by topping the biggest civil verdict he was aware of....."
Knowing you are not going to receive a dime....that this guy is in jail.....isn't this a waste of money and court resources? Why not use the money spent on this to offer a reward for information?
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Post by akamai on Dec 23, 2011 12:15:19 GMT -5
Yes, but who is going to pay for the damages? The culprit in this crime should be held totally responsible and be deprived of his life for the heinous act.
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Post by sadie on Dec 23, 2011 16:26:03 GMT -5
I don't believe there is anything the justice system could do that would come close to making the people/person responsible for this act pay in any way close to what this child suffered or what his loved ones went thru. That's the whole problem. We can't set them on fire (not that I want to).....we can't let them be in pain for years and slowly die........I don't believe the people responsible for these acts have the capability for empathy so they'll never understand the anguish and pain they caused. Money can pay for things....but again does not make up for anything.
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Post by iamjumbo on Dec 24, 2011 17:05:33 GMT -5
I would think that with the horrific nature of this crime there was every effort. Maybe someone will come forward that will help put the pieces together for law enforcement. The incident happened in an isolated wooded area. The story goes on to say that he said "some kids threw gas on him", then "Don did it".....then 12 years later before his death he stated that this person (who was 13 at the time) sexually assaulted him two weeks before the horrible incident. It does seem this guy is probably responsible.....he has continued to offend........just too many people seem to think that all cases are like CSI. Juries are even expecting that type of evidence and acquitting people when the prosecution doesn't have it, even with other evidence that is pretty solid. I struggle with the concept of people getting multi-million dollar awards for injuries/loss/etc. Yes....there has been loss and compensation should be given.......it just seems like we are using the courts as a lottery system......who's loss is worth more.....should there be a menu....the loss of a foot equals this much.....the loss of a life is worth what......is a person on welfare worth less than the president of a company? in most states, worker's comp does exactly that. |
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Post by iamjumbo on Dec 24, 2011 17:31:31 GMT -5
I don't believe there is anything the justice system could do that would come close to making the people/person responsible for this act pay in any way close to what this child suffered or what his loved ones went thru. That's the whole problem. We can't set them on fire (not that I want to).....we can't let them be in pain for years and slowly die........I don't believe the people responsible for these acts have the capability for empathy so they'll never understand the anguish and pain they caused. Money can pay for things....but again does not make up for anything. it's not that we can't. it's that society does not have the moral backbone to do it |
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