Jury Award in Christian Case

Outrageous! That’s the only word to describe the jury award of $14.5 million, plus $7.25 million in “punitive” damages, to Marc Christian, the former homosexual lover of Rock Hudson (Metro, Feb. 18). Christian has no evidence of either AIDS or the HIV virus. Apparently, the money is supposed to compensate him for mental distress.

Whenever the question arises as to why today’s society is so litigious, we only have to look at a case like this for the answer. As long as the courts are letting these ridiculous settlements stand, there are big bucks to be made by attorneys and their clients who can convince a jury to sock it to the rich, no matter how exaggerated the claim might be.

DENNIS F. HANRAHAN

La Habra