Big Jury Awards

* Re “Risk in Big Jury Awards,” editorial, July 14:

The time has come to think clearly on this subject. Juries, with whatever wisdom and understanding of the amounts involved, decide on awards. If additional punitive damages should be demanded for neglect or abuse, it was of the public at large and not just of the individual(s) of that case. Such awards should go into a special fund for the endless public needs. There should, of course, be a public debate on the uses of such a fund.

DANIELLE NELSON EREM

West Hollywood

*

You are dead wrong in decrying the $4.8-billion punitive award. GM put profits ahead of human life and the jury was rightly outraged. Just because other awards were reduced is not a justification for reducing this award. Reducing the award lets companies think, just as GM has, that they’ll be better off financially by scrimping on safety and then allowing the courts to reduce any award that seems “untenable.”

STAN GORDON

Canoga Park