The Edgitators: Should There Be Fines for Frivolous Lawsuits?

A 53-year-old woman takes her eight-year-old nephew to court, all over an energetic hug! Jurors offered zero sympathy for that aunt, rejecting her lawsuit and clearing her nephew of any wrongdoing in just 30 minutes. Jennifer Connell left the Connecticut court Tuesday without the $127,00 she was seeking from her nephew.

Connell filed the lawsuit back in 2011, after attending her nephew’s 8th birthday party. On the stand, Connell said her nephew was excited to see her when he leaped into her arms and knocked her to the ground, causing her to break her wrist. Neighbors say they were shocked to hear about the suit.

“I just think it’s really that unfortunate that a family member would put a little kid through something like that,” said neighbor Meredith Lorig.

But Connell’s attorney said she had no choice, saying in part: “Our client was never looking for money from her nephew… or his family. It was about the insurance industry… and being forced to sue to get medical bills paid.”

And that brings us to our Question of the Night: Should there be fines for frivolous lawsuits?  The Edgitators weigh in…