Life in the Banana Patch

A collection of thoughts and asides about life. And if I think of anything that needs to be mocked, it will show up here.

"If a man is offered a fact which goes against his instincts, he will scrutinize it closely, and unless the evidence is overwhelming, he will refuse to believe it. If, on the other hand, he is offered something which affords a reason for acting in accordance to his instincts, he will accept it even on the slightest evidence. The origin of myths is explained in this way."
--Bertrand Russell

Sunday, November 20, 2005

O. J. Simpson recently criticized the laws that allowed the relatives of Bonny Lee Bakley to successfully sue Robert Blake.

"I still don't get how anyone can be found not guilty of a murder and then be found responsible for it in any way shape or form," Simpson said in a phone interview from his Florida home. "... If you're found not guilty, how can you be found responsible? I'd love to hear how that's not double jeopardy."

He's right. Simpson, Blake and Michael Jackson were found guilty in their respective court cases. Now Simpson and Blake have been found responsible for the crimes they were accused of, and it probably won't be long until Jackson gets sued. These civil suits find the person responsible for an act the law has already said they didn't do. It's kind of like beating a speeding ticket, and then the municipality sues you for speeding.

I blame this on lawyers. While Simpson paid $33 million, Blake has to pay $30 million. But how much money does the family get and how much do the lawyers get? The family will probably get as much at Netflix customers are going to get. See my previous post.