The U.S. has the most lawyers in the world (it used to have more lawyers than the rest of the world COMBINED), the most expensive legal system, and the most lawsuits in the world. There are significant movements (including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce) for legal reform, and several studies stating those facts:
http://www.uschamber.com/legalreform
"America’s civil justice system is the world’s most expensive, with a direct cost in 2009 of $248.1 billion, or 1.74% of the U.S. GDP.
The tort cost per person was $808 in 2009, a sevenfold increase from 1950 when adjusted for inflation."
http://blogs.wsj.com/numbersguy/how-much-are-frivolous-lawsu...
http://www.towerswatson.com/assets/pdf/3424/Towers-Watson-To...
Spain, for example, offers free legal assistance for lawsuits over 900 euros (link below in english).
http://www.mjusticia.gob.es/cs/Satellite/en/1200666550200/Tr...
The average cost per lawsuit in the European Union (in legal fees, etc) is 3.000 euros (Madrid Mediators Association figure). A "standard" lawsuit costs about 10.000 euros (an example for suing a doctor for malpractice).
For comparison, in the U.S., "Ongoing expenses to prepare and mount a medical malpractice case average around $20,000 -$50,000, but in complicated situations it can be $50,000 -$100,000 "
http://personalfinance.costhelper.com/medical-malpractice-la...