In recent years Americans have learned a great deal about the civil litigation process although most Americans actually give civil procedure very little thought. When OJ Simpson was found not guilty in criminal court then found liable in the deaths of Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman Americans learned something. When several states sued tobacco companies for damages and won we learned something else. When Ralph Nader kept suing Ford Motor Company every time the Pinto blew up causing Ford to eventually remove the Pinto from the American market we learned still more. Americans' opinions about civil procedure have been influenced by the McDonalds hot coffee case, by attorneys' ads solicitng clients, etc. Further, civil litigation has truly transformed American society during recent decades. Our schools are integrated and women have the right to abortion as a result of litigation, for example. We would probably agree that in many instances this court activity is for the good of society. Other times it is not. When are civil suits justified and when are they just times when people are taking advantage of the system?