May 10, 2008

Robert Bork and Yale Club Settle $1-Million Lawsuit Out of Court

Robert H. Bork, the rejected Supreme Court nominee and longtime scourge of liberals, has settled his $1-million lawsuit against the Yale Club of New York City, where he tripped, fell, and hurt himself while stepping onto a dais in 2006.

Mr. Bork’s lawsuit, filed last year, accused the club of “wanton, willful, and reckless disregard for the safety of its guests,” and blamed it for the “excruciating pain” he has suffered since the accident and subsequent surgery.

According to the Associated Press, the terms of the settlement are secret, so it’s not clear if Mr. Bork, who is 81, won justice or the $1-million he sought.

One thing’s for sure, however. The settlement keeps the case out of court, and spares the litigants any further unwelcome moments in the spotlight. —Andrew Mytelka

Comments

1. If the worker assembling the dais Judge Bork fell from was injured because of possible negligence on Yale’s part; say, a faulty electrical circuit resulting in an electrical burn to the worker, would Judge Bork support the right of the worker to sue Yale for damages? If the catering employee who prepared the luncheon Judge Bork ate before he plunged from the dais cut her hand because of possibly inadequate lighting in the kitchen area, would Judge Bork support the right of the employee to sue the caterer and Yale for creating an unsafe workplace? Oh, and did Judge Bork hire a lawyer who specializes in this particular kind of lawsuit, in the hope of winning a large payoff, or did he just represent himself here?

   — Philip J Tramdack    May 12, 07:37 AM    #

2. Wow. Next time I get into an argument about tort reform with an archconservative (they generally are the loudest in shouting about “d*&% trial attorneys”), I will have to keep this in mind. Admittedly, I do not know Judge Bork’s position on the subject, so I don’t know how much irony I can savor from this.

   — EAC    May 12, 09:17 AM    #

3. As a conservative, I must tell you that Judge Bork’s decisions have often been anything but conservative. Before one starts making innuendos, one might want to examine the rulings he has made over his terms on benches.

   — Jason    May 12, 09:20 AM    #

4. From law.com’s legal dictionary:
   Wanton – “ grossly negligent to the extent of being recklessly unconcerned with the safety of people or property.”
   Willful – “referring to acts which are intentional, conscious and directed toward achieving a purpose.”
   Reckless disregard – “gross negligence without concern for danger to others.”

   Can anyone take seriously the legal hyperbole and redundancy? I could see this kind of language being used against cigarette manufacturers, but Yale Club? Please!

   — Robert    May 12, 10:04 AM    #

5. We’d like to help you folks out, but, unfortunately, we were banished to North Dakota after speaking out against illegal immigration. You’re on your own.

   — Commonsense & Sanity    May 12, 10:29 AM    #

6. What’s wrong with North Dakota Dakota? I’ve been there and live next door. This region, which occasionally has its own foibles, nevertheless seems to be one of the last bastions of commonsense left in a world bereft of such understanding.

   — R2    May 12, 11:54 AM    #

7. I don’t know the extent of Judge Bork’s injuries, but if he received a settlement of $1 million I want to be the guest speaker at the Yale Club next year.

   — Gary Brooks    May 12, 01:27 PM    #

8. I’m not sure why I’m doing this — wait, I know why, I like to point the finger at our health care system at every opportunity. It is entirely possible his plan wouldn’t pay much in the way of care unless he sued. The advantage he had over some guy like me is he could get them to settle quickly, sparing him months of uncertainly and possible credit risk.

   — Sam    May 12, 05:16 PM    #

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