Changes

The government is not prosecuting any other citizens for the 9/11 attack itself.  Instead, the vast majority of federal prosecutions concern immigration and drugs.  High publicity cases include the prosecution of executives like Martha Stewart.  Sometimes congressmen are prosecuted, like the former Chairman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, Dan Rostenkowski.  He was convicted but President Clinton later pardoned him.

The government is not prosecuting any other citizens for the 9/11 attack itself.  Instead, the vast majority of federal prosecutions concern immigration and drugs.  High publicity cases include the prosecution of executives like Martha Stewart.  Sometimes congressmen are prosecuted, like the former Chairman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, Dan Rostenkowski.  He was convicted but President Clinton later pardoned him.

Most cases in federal court are “civil” disputes, whereby the government or a private party brings non-criminal charges against a defendant.  Commercial disputes and claims of personal injury are the vast majority of these cases.  Often they require many years and much legal fees before resolution.  Rarely do the parties recover more than they spent in attorneys fees.  Why do they bother?

Most cases in federal court are “civil” disputes, whereby the government or a private party brings non-criminal charges against a defendant.  Commercial disputes and claims of personal injury are the vast majority of these cases.  Often they require many years and much legal fees before resolution.  Rarely do the parties recover more than they spent in attorneys fees.  However, although the general American rule is that parties are responsible for their own attorney's fees, certain laws (such as civil rights laws) allow for a prevailing party to recover attorneys fees from the opponent.

Americans do this because they like their “day in court.”  In the old days, someone who felt he was wronged would challenge his opponent to a duel.  Within days they would meet at dawn somewhere and try to kill each other, often leaving one dead.  That practice was stopped by prosecuting the person who survived for murder.  Now this type of dispute is resolved by one person suing the other.  Win or lose, at the end they feel received their “day in court” to vent their grievance.

Americans do this because they like their “day in court.”  In the old days, someone who felt he was wronged would challenge his opponent to a duel.  Within days they would meet at dawn somewhere and try to kill each other, often leaving one dead.  That practice was stopped by prosecuting the person who survived for murder.  Now this type of dispute is resolved by one person suing the other.  Win or lose, at the end they feel received their “day in court” to vent their grievance.