A NEW CLASS OF VICTIM

Few people today want to accept personal responsibility but, even under
contemporary standards a Tennessee woman's lawsuit is nothing short of bizarre.

The woman, under the influence of crack cocaine, was driving to Nashville
to see her parole officer. Police tried to pull her over twice, and both
times she fled. She got away the first time. During the second chase,
however, she lost control of her stolen car and it hit two officers trying
to stop her with a spike strip. Both were killed.

The driver, awaiting trial in the deaths, filed an $11 million lawsuit
against a woman who was riding with her. She alleges that the passenger
forced her to use the drugs, coerced her into trying to outrun police and
then grabbed the steering wheel. In a fight over the steering wheel, she
says, the car careened out of control and hit the officers.

Thus, the plaintiff claims to be an innocent bystander in a wreck involving
a car that she was driving while under the influence of drugs. If damages
are to be paid, surely they should go to the families of the fallen
officers rather than to her. The lawsuit makes a travesty of the court system.