This article posted on CNN struck me as a bad joke. Once I realized Texas was involved I not only believed it but expected it. The story goes like this: A 16 yr old rich kid got drunk and drove erratically, leading to the death and or severe injury of a car full of people. The defense claimed the parents should share the blame because their money created a situation where the kid felt privileged enough to drink and drive. The lawyer went on to suggest throwing the kid in jail wouldn’t ‘essen the suffering for any of those families,’ victimized by the crime.
There may be a silver lining. The verdict puts responsibility on the parents, which exposes them to a massive lawsuit. If this defense can work, then we have a long way to go in order to become the society we want to be.