Larsson läser

Janerik Larsson

Larsson läser

Amerikanska skadeståndsadvokater

Janerik Larsson

En problematisk sida för företag som gör affärer i USA är inte sällan mötet med amerikanska skadeståndsadvokater. Många företag kapitulerar direkt och betalar även om det oftast handlar om helt ogrundad utpressning. Lagstiftningen gynnar denna skamliga ”industri” och det är ingen tillfällighet att skadeståndsadvokater hör till de mest generösa bidragsgivarna till amerikanska politiker.

Idag berättar Wall Street Journal i en ledare om ett företag som tagit striden och vunnit:

It wasn’t a good spin cycle for plaintiffs lawyers on Thursday as an Ohio jury rejected a vaunted class-action lawsuit against Whirlpool for washing machines the plaintiffs said had a moldy smell. Chalk up another win for a company that refused to bend to trial-bar extortion.The case has been pending since 2008 on whether 200,000 Ohio residents deserved compensation for washing machines that some consumers said made their clothes smell. After a long and detailed trial, the jury took roughly two hours to decide the company shouldn’t be on the hook for negligent design or breach of implied warranty.

The verdict marked the first time the case was heard on the merits. The company had appealed to the Supreme Court over class certification on grounds that few consumers in the designated class had common injuries or any injury at all. In February the Justices declined to hear that appeal, so now the cases will proceed.

As it happens, this may have worked in Whirlpool’s favor. The plaintiffs bar will no doubt keep bringing cases, hoping that another jury will rule for them. But the Ohio jury verdict may cause them to weed out some of the more spurious claims.

Most companies settle these large cases once claims are allowed to join into a class, fearing that the potential costs are too large. But Whirlpool’s victory shows that companies with a strong case can come out better even on huge class actions when they decide to fight rather than settle.

Om gästbloggen

Janerik Larsson är gästbloggare hos SvD Ledare. Han är skribent, författare och journalist, verksam i Stiftelsen Fritt Näringsliv och pr-byrån Prime. Bloggar om svensk politik och har en internationell utblick mot främst brittiska och amerikanska medier.
Åsikter är hans egna.

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