And the prize for the most ridiculous lawsuit goes to…

Every day ridiculous lawsuits that have no business ever being filed end up not only being filed but actually are allowed to move through the judicial process. Most of the time, these outrageous lawsuits get tossed but not until there is significant time, money and effort made to get the lawsuit to go away.

But the mother of all lawsuits was just recently filed against St. Clair County, IL officials, surrounding cities, police departments and Southwestern Illinois College for nearly $1.7 trillion.

Yes. You read that right. $1.7 TRILLION!

An inmate at Western Correctional Center in Mount Sterling, IL is suing because he believes he was falsely arrested and fairly banned from the college campus even though he pleaded guilty to a felony aggravated battery charge after inappropriately touching a classmate in September at Southwestern Illinois College.

The lawsuit will undoubtedly not be successful as the entire St. Clair County government budget is only $186 million.

Of course this lawsuit is ridiculous but in the end what is the difference between an inmate lawsuit and the lawsuits we see so often that allow lawyers to walk away with millions while the victims get nothing but coupons? The only difference is that the inmate’s lawsuit will not go anywhere but the other lawsuits very often end with a positive outcome for personal injury lawyers. Jackpot justice is jackpot justice regardless of who files the lawsuit.

It is time for us as citizens to demand that our legislative leaders pass meaningful lawsuit reforms and take a stand against jackpot justice.