Yeah, a lot of small cases are basically smash and grabs that way. The reality though is, if you’re say, an insurance company (like auto insurance) you’re going to get a ton of low value lawsuits. And if you develop a reputation for settling even b.s. cases you won’t be in business long.

I sympathize because our healthcare system is for shit. Victims of violent crimes should not have to pay out of pocket for their medical expenses. But in reality, victims compensation funds aren’t that great, and violent criminals are usually judgment proof.

and never actually intended to fleece them for that $700,000

It doesn’t sound like you understand what happened. Please do a little background reading before popping off.

Matt Lauer got played by Ryan Lochte.

It’s fascinating to me that a reporter took the time to ferret out that this was a publicity stunt...but Matt Lauer (and other network “journalists”) can’t be bothered to fact check a goddamned Presidential candidate on air.

Yes. The plaintiffs clearly had no case and had been previously offered a settlement, which they refused. So Cinemark got the ability the pursue legal fees from the plaintiffs should the plaintiffs lose in the end (they would) and used it as a means of putting the whole case to an end. It seems it’s a fairly normal…

There was no one else to sue. And some really shitty lawyers convinced them they could win.