Bob Dorigo Jones

CFA Senior Fellow

Bob is a leading spokesperson about abuses in the civil justice system and what we should do about them.  For two decades, he has focused on educating the public about how families, communities, and job providers are hurt by out-of-control lawsuit abuse.

Bob’s weekly radio program, “Let’s Be Fair!,” is broadcast by 82 radio stations across America, including Eagle Broadcasting and the Midnight Radio Network. It also is featured on major websites, such as Tucker Carlson’s DailyCaller.com.

Now in its third year of reaching more than 27 million listeners, “Let’s Be Fair!” presents important stories about the impact of crazy lawsuits and a litigation-happy culture on our communities and families.

Cyberbully Lawsuits

Cyberbullies beware – lawsuits will follow, like the 14-year old Georgia girl who wants others to know she is fighting back until laws are strengthened to better balance free speech against defamation.

May Cause Drowsiness!

Employers now can’t ask if employees are taking medications that cause drowsiness, thanks to a recent court win by the U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission – new dangers and lawsuits to follow!

Same Court Case, Different Rulings

Two federal judges issue different holdings in the same court challenge against NLRB “poster rule” – and now an appeals court overturns one, leaving further court action necessary.

Of Happy Meals and Lawsuits

A California lawsuit against McDonald’s is thrown out of court, but not before a year’s worth of bad press and costs that harm employers, investors, and do nothing to “improve” public health.

Internships Vanish Where Lawsuits Flourish

Internships give critical work experience on the way to a career. But employers, like TV's Charlie Rose and others, face growing number of lawsuits about internships and - as predicted - internships are no longer offered.

Never Promised a Rose Garden

A flower bed in front of a condo now costs thousands in legal fees, as the owner and condo association go at it in court– a trend that makes us less civil and more adversarial.

NLRB Poster Rule Ruling -- More Lawsuits?

A recent federal court decision on the NLRB so-called “poster rule” leave businesses scratching their heads and worried about a new round of frivolous lawsuits.

Girl Scouts -- 100 Years and Liability Costs

As the Girls Scouts celebrate their 100th anniversary this month, 32,000 boxes of the famous cookies must be sold to pay for the liability insurance on the sale – and same for community groups across America!

California Lawsuit Lottery "Winner"?

The lawsuit lottery continues - a California jury awards $164 million for medical plaintiff and all but $4 million is for punitive damages and mental anguish, and patients pay that bill in higher costs.

Business Merger Lawsuit Mania

In 7 of 10 lawsuits challenging business mergers, shareholders get nothing, but lawyers get payday.

Sign Here, Then Kids Can Play

Parents signing waivers for play dates for their kids? A growing trend reflecting the sue first, ask later American lawsuit culture.

Beer Pong and Lawsuits

Beer pong means no dice for a drunk man who sues a pub after he strolls onto a highway – judge does right thing in dismissing claims in a victory for personal responsibility.

Lincoln's "Winners are Losers"

Lawsuit winners are nominal losers in wasted costs and time, said Abraham Lincoln in comments appropriate for today.

Email Disclaimers - Unnoticed, Unenforceable

Email disclaimers – the latest wacky warnings, which many lawyers believe are unenforceable; some are adding humor to the disclaimers to see if anyone notices – and they don’t.

How Many Prisoner Lawsuit Filings Are Free?

665 lawsuits filed by one prisoner in one year – and who pays for that? Taxpayers! Some states are cracking down – three lawsuits and the prisoner pays.

Convicts Robbing Taxpayers From Prison?

Prisoner lawsuits are clogging the courts with frivolous claims – too much time on their hands! 16 states are cracking down, but more need to follow.

What's the "Bike" Deal?

A woman sues a big toy store when a wheel falls off a store-assembled bike – rather than taking the matter to the store itself, raising prices and fostering the “lawsuit-happy” culture in the U.S.

Why Only One Percent of Lawsuits Go to Trial

New lawsuits are filed every two seconds in the U.S., and former Colorado Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Love Kourlis calls that “too many and too costly” in her new must-read book, Rebuilding Justice.

Art Experts Sued Over Authentications

The new year brings threats of lawsuits against art experts who verify authentic works – leaving museums alarmed by potential impact on art world.

Local Community Trails Threatened?

Grassroots activism has led to a new law in Connecticut that protects communities from being sued over injuries incurred on community trails.  Should your state consider a similar law?

More Warning Labels This Holiday!

The most “warningful” time of the year! Holiday warning labels perfect for 2012 Wacky Warning Labels Contest!

Fear of Lawsuits Costing Lives?

A woman stops CPR on an office colleague because her boss worries about “liability” – and the woman dies.  Should the cause of death be listed as “fear of lawsuit”?

Watch Out for Class Action Lawsuit Scams

Class action lawsuits too often include millions of Americans who received nothing – while lawyers pocket millions and even some judges’ pet projects benefit.

Can't We Be Friends?

A major cereal maker drops a lawsuit against a non-profit using a similar trademarked image – trademarks are important, but ending costly lawsuits should be praised, too.

Thanksgiving reminds us of what’s truly important – especially when a member of an Indian tribe publicly scolds her tribe for suing a college to keep its Indian nickname when the funds could be better spent on housing and medical care.

A woman in a clinical study sues the drug maker, even though she was given a placebo – and the rash of lawsuits makes it tougher for scientists to conduct studies and keep us safe.

Frivolous lawsuits often hamper or prevent access to safe medical treatments like Chantix for smokers, despite FDA studies approving use.

A 60-year old concert musician sues a non-profit group for young musicians for age discrimination, then asks for the judge to be removed because the judge is too old! Groups improving quality of life are often the target of ludicrous lawsuits.

Is there a difference between a road sign saying, “Watch for Ice on Bridge” and “Bridge May Be Icy?” Lawsuits – many frivolous – are forcing states to spend precious resources to change what should really be under the heading of common sense.

Lets Be Fair takes a look at one of the easiest ways to fight a frivolous lawsuit. Judges have the power to dismiss such cases but must be asked by the defense attorney to do so.

Legal waivers are often not worth the paper they’re written on…imagine calling off all the fun stuff in life because lawsuits are imminent, says Bob Dorigo Jones.

With jobs as the #1 issue in America, we’ve heard from Washington and Wall Street, but we haven’t yet heard from Main Street – Bob Dorigo Jones points to John Ratzenberger’s plan for community action to train skilled workers.

NFL star Peyton Manning goes to Europe for medical procedure because FDA and lawsuit fears block key treatments, Bob Dorigo Jones explains in this week’s “Let’s Be Fair!”

Hurricanes and storms bring down trees that cause damage – but does that mean you should sue your neighbor? Bob Dorigo Jones tackles the sad and costly “sue first” legacy of natural disasters.

The New York Times reports vital life lessons learned on school playgrounds are thwarted due to lawsuit fears and removal of play equipment, according to Bob Dorigo Jones.

Did you know the average age of America’s skilled workers is 55 years old? This will create a shortage of 10 million skilled jobs by 2020 – action needed now, says John Ratzenberger.

In a recent comic strip, “Pearls Before Swine,” the characters read warning label after warning label, concluding, “I’ve never been so afraid of a toaster!” Bob Dorigo Jones describes the negative changes in consumer behavior based on scary labels.

A local judge in Bowie County, Texas deletes mention in the public record of ceremonial prayer at the start of the court’s day out of fear of lawsuits, which cost millions to defend and cause most local governments to simply cave in.

As nation debates debt crisis, wasteful spending in the form of defensive medicine is crushing medical care – six of ten medical malpractice lawsuits are abandoned because malpractice simply didn’t happen.

Great inventors like Al Thieme, (left) -- Amigo motorized scooters for disabled and elderly people -- meet the needs of millions, but still become the targets of abusive lawsuits.

A 911 dispatcher falling asleep on the phone! It happened, and he sued and won under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as Bob Dorigo Jones points out the lawsuit abuses associated with a well-intentioned law.

Product label warns, “Do not use if you have an enlarged prostate.” What product? An over-the-counter painkiller for PMS. Some labels are head-scratchers but are necessary to keep people safe.

Bob Dorigo Jones points to the President Reagan idea that great social change starts at our kitchen tables with stories – whether we take sharp aim at our challenges or celebrate the greatness of America’s freedoms. 

When someone sues over a pricked finger – the “open and obvious” rule no longer applies in U.S. lawsuits. 

Thomas Paine published “Common Sense” in 1776 as rebuke to the unpredictable power of King George III and thus rallied the colonies to independence from arbitrary government and courts.  What would he say about our courts and regulatory agencies today?

Bob's Column on DailyCaller.com

Defending Common Sense in 1776 and 2011

California retailers are hit with lawsuits demanding that cashiers are provided with chairs in order to do their jobs. When jobs are scarce, can we afford to play the costly lawsuit lottery?

Should drunk drivers be able to sue pubs, bars and even picnic hosts when they drive and hurt themselves? In New Jersey, despite a state law banning such suits, the courts have allowed this kind of lawsuit – with costly consequences for all of us!

A man sues Winnebago because his cruise control doesn’t keep him from crashing when he steps away for coffee – the so-called “Stella Awards” are shocking, but not true! Bob Dorigo Jones reports that real lawsuits are often stranger than fiction!

Comic actor Ed Helms' recent injury on set was no laughing matter - the first aid kit was off-limits to the actor because it carried the potential for a lawsuit!

Nobody paid attention when real danger appeared.  The same is true of too many warnings on products!  Learn about the hunter who is now has hearing loss due to loud gunshots.

The 2011 Contest Finalists announced this week, and Bob Dorigo Jones shares new insights about “only in America” labels and lawsuits!

The finalists have been selected for the 14th annual Wacky Warning Labels Contest -- and fear of lawsuits is driving manufacturers to extremes, says Bob Dorigo Jones, WWL creator and CFA Senior Fellow.

Bob's Column on DailyCaller.com

Plaintiff lawyers owe companies like Taco Bell an apology

A heating pad doesn’t give a warm feeling when the warning label causes unnecessary fear of fire. Lawsuit fears are driving labels to "alarmist" levels.

The playground see-saw is now an historical footnote due to litigation – except in Amish country, where lawsuits are rare.

Class action lawsuits often benefit plaintiff lawyers through big fees, cost companies millions, and often result in class action plaintiffs getting little more than coupons.

New technology enables ultrasound videos of your unborn child – but many hospitals are withholding them from parents due to fear of lawsuits.

Can a divorced man burn down his spouse’s house and then sue the insurance company for emotional distress? Insurance fraud costs $30 billion and drives up insurance premiums!

Bob Dorigo Jones explores the dangers raised in Walter Olson’s new book on the subject – and why it’s important to all Americans.

If you’re in Connecticut, it’s a reality. Bob Dorigo Jones highlights a $3 million verdict that threatens to close city parks and trails due to the threat of lawsuits. 

President Obama's budget proposal offers up health courts to handle avalanche of medical malpractice and health care claims clogging courts.

Venerable insurance underwriter Lloyd's of London declares America as one of the riskiest places for physicians to provide healthcare - high costs and quality care at stake. 

Half of medical school residents face medical malpractice claims before they complete their training. Is your doctor scared of lawsuits?

Medical group sues federal government for “conflict-of-interest” on diet guidelines – perfect storm of regulation and litigation, according to Bob Dorigo Jones

Bob introduces you to John Tyler of the Kauffman Foundation, which focuses on ways to help entrepreneurs succeed.

Bob tackles the “icy” question of bridge warnings signs – a woman sued the state over the use of “Watch for Ice” when she ran into oncoming traffic!

Bob spotlights a $150,000 lawsuit filed by a U.S. Congressman over an olive pit in a sandwich – the lawsuit settled after national outrage (and Bob’s column)!

Bob profiles the outrageous California lawsuit against McDonald’s Happy Meal – taking away personal choice and responsibility.

Bob spotlights a medical researcher who has been exposed as a fraud – he was paid by plaintiffs’ lawyers to manufacture a link between childhood vaccinations and autism, according to a respected medical journal.

Bob features Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s bold proposal for “loser pays” to control frivolous lawsuits.

Bob reflects on a case lesson in civility, when Major Leaguer Armando Galarraga pitched a perfect game – except for a blown call by the umpire.  Galarraga forgave the ump when the ump acknowledged the mistake – a lesson in resolving disputes with our “better angels.”

Bob revisits the Love Thy Neighbor lawsuit – the media attention the case received inspired a lawyer to donate his time to defend Love Thy Neighbor – perfect story for the holidays.

Bob's Column on DailyCaller.com

Why Dennis Kucinich's frivolous olive pit lawsuit matters

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Bob's "Let's Be Fair!" Blog

Bob Dorigo Jones Bio