Normally I am skeptical of big ticket lawsuits, but I am making an exception for the three Duke students unjustly prosecuted by Mike Nifong, whose wrist-slap 24 hour jail sentence is an affront to every American potentially the victim of another rogue prosecutor. The AP reports they are seeking a settlement for $30 million and if they don't receive this sum plus a package of reforms designed to prevent another miscarriage of justice, they will sue.Last year, the City of Durham's revenues were just shy of 176 million dollars, so the lads are only seeking 17% of one year's expenditures. When juries are asked to send a message to defendants, such as a corporation which negligently harmed people, by punishing them with a high damages award, 17% of yearly revenues is not an unthinkable penalty. Anything under 5% of revenues does not even qualify as "material" in an accounting sense.The 2007 State of the City address by Durham Mayor William Bell contains these words:"The...(Read Full Post)