Story Archive

Go Sue Yourself

Barbara Bagley is suing Barbara Bagley over a car crash that killed Barbara Bagley’s husband. Plaintiff Barbara Bagley, acting on behalf of her husband’s estate, says defendant Barbara Bagley, represented by her insurance company, negligently drove into a sagebrush and flipped the vehicle she and her husband were riding in, and that therefore she ought to pay plaintiff Barbara Bagley for her loss of love, companionship, and financial support. There’s only one Barbara Bagley in the case, and the trial judge said she couldn’t sue herself. Lawyers for defendant Barbara Bagley warned: “The jury would be asked to determine how much money will fairly compensate Barbara Bagley for the harm she caused herself. The jury will be highly confused — it cannot order a person to compensate herself.” But the Utah Court of Appeals said the case could proceed. (AC/Salt Lake Tribune) ...If the named parties were the estate and the insurer, would anyone find this odd?