[todd8]

Hacker news readers may not realize that joint liability exists in many states. Under this doctrine, the plaintiff can collect all awarded damages from even very peripherally involved people. A person with deep pockets can end up paying for others mistakes.

For example, a plaintif’s attorney might drag everyone into a lawsuit they can over a disappointing surgical result. The jury could be persuaded that an operating room nurse is 1% liable for a failed operation and the surgeon 99% responsible. If the surgeon can’t pay their part of a two million dollar judgement (brand new doctor perhaps) the nurse may end up paying the two million (maybe the nurse is married to a software engineer).