Hacker News Reader

If the IRS didn't have a specific exemption for award settlements for personal injury cases, the government would be getting 30-40% of it, at least.

This case will pave the way for future class action lawsuits, and perhaps criminal or regulatory cases.

If someone is stuck on the fact that the jury awarded a couple of people punitive damages, they're missing the forest for the trees.

Why would this make someone want to participate in a class action? Seems like it would do the opposite. Who doesn't want to be a billionaire?

Courts are less likely to award further punitive damages. Those who doesn't have the resources to go against Monsanto's lawyers would have incentives to participate in a class action lawsuit.

Probably a bad incentive. Government should remain impartial, easier if they don't receive the money involved.

I dunno, that's just how it works here.