I would bet money she's a liberal, who believes she is always the victim whenever anything bad happens to her. She probably will never take responsiblity for her own actions.

If my assumptions are correct, I know this type of personality quite well, I run into them often.

These types of lawsuits are the reasons my insurance cost so much.

The solution? Figure out who the judges are that refuse to throw the cases out of court, and recall them.

I bet she's a conservative. They'll do anything for more money. They'll sue their own mother if it earns them an extra buck. They'll sell out the environment, the country, and humanity if they end up rich for their effort.

I've known this type. They spend all their time thinking of ways to screw the utility companies, forcing them to charge the rest of us more for their services because some conservative dweeb saw a way to steal some money. Nevermind that they were probably the jerkwad who was to blame- they like the fact that lawyers see the same bottom-line that they do. Lawsuit = More money. Screw everybody else in the process? Who cares? The conservative's got more money now!

Some of the most famous environmentalists in American history were conservatives.

Conservatives DO have more money than liberals, in general, because they are better at business.

So tell me, Mr./Ms. AC, do you think America made a major mistake by not ratifying the Kyoto treaty?

there's something orginal on the foo.... a conservative

Enlighten me, where in the hell does the Kyoto protocol have ANYTHING to do with a dumb bitch falling off a skateboard?

Dick, don't be your namesake, one, and two, don't turn laughing over a moron into a political debate.

What exactly is wrong with her suing for this? Do you people not even read the articles you're posting?

Elizabeth C. Wallenberg, 27, was burned just above her buttocks and on her left arm when she fell off her skateboard onto a cover over a steam pipe at Second Avenue and 13th Street in the East Village shortly after midnight on Aug. 11, 2004, said her lawyer Ronald Berman.

The manhole cover was being heated from beneath. Anyone could have fallen on this and scarred themselves, the fact that it was a skateboarder is completely irrelevant. I know that when I walk around town I don't expect to be having to avoid heated manhole covers that will scar me if I touch them. Sure, I would be aware that they get hot in the sun, but unless New York is sunny in the early hours of the morning, I wouldn't be expecting to worry about it then.

The company is at fault.

Here in vegas we had a problem with electrical ground box covers electrocuting people when they stepped on them in thier bare feet. Nevada Power company was sued because they failed to maintain a safe walking surface for the public. The electrical problems were caused by shorts in the electrical circuits. Over time high voltage wires developed bare spots causing the wiring itself to come into contact with the ground boxes.
(i know blah, blah...).
Anyways, The utility company responsible for the maintenance of the manholes are responsible for maintaining a safe walking surface. The covers are supposed to be insulated underneath to prevent heat and/or electrical transference (whatever the case may be).
I'm willing to bet that this will be what is decided in court.

"They'll sell out the environment, the country, and humanity if they end up rich for their effort."

I agree.