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Is the legal system biased towards corporates and against individuals, and why?

Pearlie Nevitt

Well, in my opinion, the legal system is definitely biased towards corporates and against individuals. There are many factors that contribute to this unfairness, but I'll try to summarize some of the most important ones.

First of all, in many countries, corporations have a lot more money and resources than individuals, and they can afford to hire the best lawyers and legal teams. This means that they can often outspend and outmaneuver their opponents in court, which puts individuals at a huge disadvantage. For example, a study conducted by the American Bar Association found that in civil cases where one side was represented by a lawyer and the other was not, the represented side won 80% of the time. That's a pretty damning statistic.

Another factor that contributes to the bias is the way that laws and regulations are written. Often, these are crafted with the input of powerful corporations and industry groups, who are looking out for their own interests. This can result in laws that are tilted in favor of big business, and that make it harder for individuals to hold those businesses accountable. For example, in the US, there are many laws that restrict the ability of people to sue corporations for damages caused by their products or services. These laws are often justified as a way to prevent frivolous lawsuits, but they also make it much harder for people to get justice.

Finally, I think there is often a cultural bias in the legal system that favors corporations over individuals. In many countries, there is a mentality that businesses are the engines of economic growth and need to be protected and nurtured. This can lead to judges and juries being more sympathetic to corporations, even when they are clearly in the wrong. For example, a study by the Center for American Progress found that in cases involving wage theft - where employers fail to pay their workers the wages they are owed - even when workers win their cases, they only recover an average of 15% of the wages stolen. That's a shockingly low number, and suggests that the legal system is not living up to its promise of protecting workers' rights.

All of these factors combine to create a legal system that is stacked against individuals and in favor of corporations. Of course, there are exceptions and counterexamples, and there are certainly many dedicated and ethical lawyers and judges who try to do the right thing. But overall, I think we need to acknowledge the bias and work to level the playing field. That means increasing access to legal representation for individuals, pushing for stronger and more equitable laws and regulations, and changing the cultural narrative around what it means to be a responsible corporate citizen. Only then can we truly say that the legal system is fair and just for all.