Lawsuit abuse is a major contributor to the increased costs of

Hear the stern voice of Charles W. Pickering, who warned a nation with these words: “Lawsuit abuse is a major contributor to the increased costs of healthcare, goods and services to consumers.” This is not the murmur of one discontented man, but the cry of a judge who looked upon the courts and saw them swollen with greed. For the law, meant to be the servant of justice, had in many cases been twisted into a weapon for profit. And when the law is so misused, the burden does not fall only upon the guilty or the powerful—it falls upon every citizen, upon every family, upon the very fabric of society.

The meaning of this saying is that lawsuits, when abused, carry consequences far beyond the courtroom. In truth, justice requires the right to sue, for without it the injured would have no recourse. But when this right becomes excess—when men file suits not for justice but for wealth, not for fairness but for vengeance—then the costs spread like fire. Doctors must pay more for insurance against endless claims, and the sick pay higher fees for their care. Merchants raise prices to shield themselves against liability, and every consumer feels the weight of the court’s excess. Thus, what should have been a shield for the weak becomes a tax upon all.

Consider the tale of medical malpractice in America. There are doctors who have erred and patients who have suffered—lawsuits in such cases are just and necessary. But over time, the flood of claims, many of them frivolous or exaggerated, caused physicians to pay staggering sums in malpractice insurance. Some abandoned high-risk fields like obstetrics altogether, leaving communities without care. Here the truth of Pickering’s words is revealed: lawsuit abuse not only drains wealth but diminishes service, burdening both healer and patient alike.

History too offers its lessons. In ancient Rome, as litigation multiplied, lawyers discovered they could stretch simple disputes into endless proceedings. Cicero himself lamented that those who came to court often lost more in fees and delays than they gained in judgment. Over time, trust in the system faltered, for what was meant to deliver justice instead delivered ruin. When law becomes a game for profit rather than a pursuit of truth, both society and commerce weaken.

Yet let us not misinterpret Pickering’s wisdom. The answer is not to silence the voice of the injured, nor to strip away the right to seek justice. The answer is to guard the law against abuse, to preserve its nobility by shielding it from exploitation. For without accountability, the powerful would trample the weak. But without restraint, the weak could bleed society dry through endless claims. The balance is delicate, and it must be maintained by wisdom, integrity, and courage.

The lesson is plain: in your life, do not misuse the law. Do not seek the court for gain where no true injury lies. Support leaders who aim to reform legal systems so they protect the innocent without crushing the common good. And as citizens, remember that the costs of abuse fall upon all; every dishonest claim, every frivolous suit, is a weight added to your neighbor’s burden, to your own family’s expenses, to the future of your children.

Practical action calls us to vigilance: encourage fair mediation before litigation, strengthen laws against frivolous claims, and honor honesty in all dealings. Seek justice when wronged, but let your pursuit be guided by fairness, not by greed. And when you see corruption in the courts, speak against it, for silence is complicity.

So let Pickering’s warning echo: lawsuit abuse is no private sin—it is a public wound. Guard against it, and help restore the law to its rightful place: as a shield for the innocent, a terror to the guilty, and a foundation for a society where both justice and prosperity may flourish together.