Deseret News | Litigious world can't fathom compassion

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Doug Robinson: Litigious world can't fathom compassion

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Mrsmort | 2:06 p.m. Sept. 2, 2008

God bless you Mindy. You are remarkable example.

Thank you for your example | 2:08 p.m. Sept. 2, 2008

I have printed off this article to keep in my file on forgiveness. What an amazing example to us all. I get so tired of all the negative comments on some of these articles. Thank you so much for this wonderful article on this amazing family. I am so glad to have gotten to hear about such wonderful people. Sometimes we grow through others trials and I think we have all grown by Mindy and Bridgers example. Our prayers are with you and thank you for being such wonderful people. You have blessed our lives by your example.

Foolishness | 2:31 p.m. Sept. 2, 2008

In the end, the medical bills still must be paid, and the childs future is forever changed prompting the question as to whether he will need money for future medical expenses and special provisions.

Its just simply foolishness, not to sue.

Comments continue below

magnus | 2:39 p.m. Sept. 2, 2008

Thanks to Doug and the DN for that article.

I feel truly sorry for a person who can read an article like this, and rather than be inspired and uplifted by the courage and generosity of a child and his mother, they chose to be angry. Angry at lawyers, and the government, and the injustice of it all...such a waste

I want my sons to be like Bridger and I want to live in the world of Mindy Carter-Shaw.

dbf | 2:43 p.m. Sept. 2, 2008

Thank you Bridger & Mindy for making this world a better place.

Is there an account | 2:50 p.m. Sept. 2, 2008

set up to donate for Bridger's medical expenses?

Pam | 3:42 p.m. Sept. 2, 2008

I hope that I will be like you if ever there is any such situation. Yours is so very sad and so very righteous and your response follows in Christ's footsteps. I think the comfort you may feel from His love may make it all even out in some way that I can't understand but trust. Best wishes and God Bless you.
Pam

Anonymous | 3:55 p.m. Sept. 2, 2008

amen to the lawyer comment. Not all people in a particular profession that deals with people, money are bad. There are just jokers out there trying to suck money from others at the slightest excuse to sue. God bless Mindy for standing here ground on correct principles or compassion, forgiveness and charity. Awesome!!

SS | 4:06 p.m. Sept. 2, 2008

She should sue, not out of spite or revenge, but to tap into insurance money to pay for her son's care. She is being short-sighted. What happens when the money runs out and her son needs care he cannot afford? He will be the one to bear the consequences. Those consequences should be borne by Miller. Her first priority should be the welfare, short term and long term, of her son. Forgiveness and consequences are not mutually exclusive.

Ing | 4:13 p.m. Sept. 2, 2008

Uhhh... I can't see anything in that article that was intended to "get people riled up by attacking lawyers."

If you're angry at someone (lawyer or otherwise) after reading this article, it's probably because of something you brought with you. That's fine...we'll all have different reactions and interpretations...it's part of the process of reading. Just don't blame the writer for something he didn't do. It's not his fault so many people despise lawyers.

It sounds to me like Bridger's mom (and Bridger himself) have made not only the most compassionate choice possible, but the most sensible one. What point is there in suing somebody with no ability to pay and a family of his own to care for? There's no point in throwing the book at him, either. He didn't do anything maliciously, just foolishly, and he's remorseful, and willing to help the victim of his accident to the best of his ability. He's not going to do this again, that's for sure; fining him or jailing him will neither help the victim nor prevent future foolishness from someone else.

It's nice to see the people on both sides act in the best possible way rather than the worst.

Anonymous | 4:24 p.m. Sept. 2, 2008

What an example of Christlike love. The world would be a better place if people followed Mindy's example.

Lawsuits are ridiculous! I know of a case where a woman "Brenda" was allegedly bitten on her leg once and on her bottom once by a dog in New Mexico when an owner was not at home. The lady, a member of her ward, felt sorry for the young lady and sent her to a doctor to be checked out, paid all her medical expenses and even gave her money. She even had the Relief Society take in meals to help her out.

Now, three years later, "Brenda" files suit against the family for hundreds of thousands of dollars claiming permanent back and neck injuries, medical expenses, and loss of consortium, etc.

Her whole ward knows she had back injuries long before this supposedly happened.

Where is compassion? Where is love? Alleging faked injuries and lying in your complaint doesn't sound like what a returned missionary, daughter and daughter-in-law of a bishop, and temple recommend holder does. No wonder people hate Mormons.

She should follow this lady's example!!!

Frank | 4:52 p.m. Sept. 2, 2008

Raymond Takashi Swenson - 10:26 a.m. Sept. 2, 2008 MUST be one of the attorneys we are all so fed up with!! Miller has already learned his lesson and will NEVER do that same thing again even if he never goes to jail or is never fined a dime. Mindy and Bridger will help him and his family to live normal lives whereas long legal battles and jail time would only disrupt the entire family. Sure, Bridger will never live the normal life he might have lived but jailing Miller will not make Bridger's life any easier.

Even though this story started out as something really bad, it would be so nice if more of the news in the papers and on TV would feature the compassion portion of this story rather than on the original incident.

Mother sets bad example | 5:07 p.m. Sept. 2, 2008

What kind of mother would teach her son to not hold people responsible for their actions?

What kind of message is she sending her son:

You don't need to worry about your choices because you won't be held responsible.

You can make foolish choices, place others in danger and break the law while doing so and not worry about the consequences.

The list of things she is teaching her son are to long to fully list but she isn't teaching him about real compassion or about forgiveness because real forgiveness only comes to those who have been held accountable for their actions.

Teaching your son to forgive and have compassion for people simply because they express sorrow and not to hold the responsible is a bad message to send to our younger generation.

I wish Bridger the best and my advice to him is to grow up, and to learn from the examples of men and women of character and not from the example of his mother.

Anonymous | 5:18 p.m. Sept. 2, 2008

This lady as obviously discovered Buddhist principles.
Nobody wants to carry hatred into their next lifetime.

hindtit | 6:44 p.m. Sept. 2, 2008

raymond takashi swenson: could you please explain where 'using a hazardous item in order to pursue a social good' might be appropriate?

elchupacabras | 6:42 p.m. Sept. 2, 2008

I am moved to tears with this story. Bridger and his mother are HEROES! I certainly hope that someday they are rewarded in the hereafter for their example. This is a case that needs to be shouted from the house tops and televised nationwide. Few people in our world are so Christlike and loving.

Bridger, I don't know you, but I am praying for your recovery. You are a special young man who has an important mission in this life to teach by example.

God bless both of you and thank you for teaching a hard-hearted person like me what is really important. I will always value your lessons!

to 5:07 | 9:35 p.m. Sept. 2, 2008

I feel sorry for you...unfortunately, you have thusfar learned nothing about compassion. Even if you triped over it, you wouldn't recognize it. I wonder if you would like to be judged in the same manner you judge? I don't know if you're religious but..there IS a little passage that says.."forgive us...as we forgive. You might want to ponder that

Retribution | 10:43 p.m. Sept. 2, 2008

The criminal equivalent of this "example" would be to not hold criminals responsible if they confess their sorrow for their bad acts. I bet very few of us would go along with that. We would call for the head of the prosecutor who refused to prosecute a crime because a person expressed remorse.

For some reason, many people seem to think retribution to society (criminal punishment) is more important than retribution to individuals themselves (civil litigation). Usually, the individual is the person most harmed and in need of aid.

The common principle is this: people should be held accountable for their bad acts. Their sorrow is necessary for their own rehabilitation, not a substitute for retribution to society or an individual.

beautiful story | 10:45 p.m. Sept. 2, 2008

Thank you for sharing this positive side of a terrible tragedy. Mindy Carter-Shaw and her son Bridger are wonderful examples to us all. After reading this I hope I can think twice next time I want to be critical of someone or feel anger due to a supposed slight. My prayers are for a full recovery for Bridger-- he will be blessed for his compassion.

Litigious World | 10:46 p.m. Sept. 2, 2008

A litigious world can't fathom compassion?

Sure, let's get rid of the ability to sue for an injury. I want to live in this "compassionate" world where I can be freely taken advantage of by others who face no consequences.

A compassionate world is one that provides an injured person with a way to be made better.

Re; Donations | 11:47 p.m. Sept. 2, 2008

To Mindy's cousin, I've had a family member in the news before and it is really hard to read some of these comments. Thank you for having the courage to read all of these. Thanks for being so honest with telling us how to donate to help Bridger out. I hope this story will encourage more people to help out the family. I hope Bridger continues to get well and that he can continue to be a great example to us all!

Ambulance Chaser | 12:25 a.m. Sept. 3, 2008

Even though I am a personal injury attorney, Mindy is my hero.

There is a time and reason for bringing a lawsuit, and this is not one of them. We often come across similar situations, and we tell our clients it is simply best to let it go. Unfortunately, too many clients only see dollar signs.

Any child with Mindy as a mother already has a greater treasure than any lawsuit could get him.

Re: Litigous World | 12:37 a.m. Sept. 3, 2008

Have you ever been sued? Apparently not, wait till you do get sued then see what you have to say about the "compassion" of litigation. Like the "compassion" of a jury handing over millions in a frivolous law suit to the woman who spilled her hot coffee on herself. We are all victims of these litigations. How about John Edwards getting rich suing doctors? Do you like your health care costs? Is that "compassion"?

Re: Re: Litigous World | 10:33 p.m. Sept. 3, 2008

Way to play stereotypes that you know nothing about.

FYI: McDonald's coffee was 190 degrees and not the typical safe 130 degrees of most establishments. They had not considered the safety ramifications.

The 79 year old woman who suffered severe burns from the scalding coffee offered to settle her case for $20,000 (her medical bills) but McDonald's refused.

Shame on people like her who seek payment for injuries and coincidentally hold companies responsible for unsafe products (how 'bout asbestos and cigarette manufacturers, should they be immune from suit as well?)

There are frivolous suits out there, but this one was a media concoction and you bought into it.

Suzie in Idaho | 10:19 a.m. Sept. 5, 2008

I read all of the comments on here and I was both pleased and disgusted. I am proud of those who have chosen to stand beside Mrs. Shaw and Bridger. I support her decision, as well. I appreciate the compassion that so many are showing Mrs. Shaw in encouraging her.
As for the folks that felt the need to try and tear her down for her decision, are you kidding me??? To Pheobe, like it or not, EVERYONE can afford to be compassionate. To Mark, you have an interesting view about debts to society. What about the expectant mother who uses drugs? Most likely, her child will have serious medical problems throughout it's life and would need to be on Medicaid. By your reckoning, she owes you taxes that you wouldn't be getting back anyway!!! To Raymond and your comment about "deferring stupidity", are you telling us that you have never done anything you regret or anything thoughtless??? If that is the case, how is it that you are not the most famous person alive???
Mindy, good job on teaching your children that Charity - the TRUE love of Christ- is so important. My best to you and your family.

wow | 5:02 p.m. Nov. 5, 2008

this story is amazing Mindy is such a wonderful lady she is a great example in forgiveness vs. revenge, what a romodel it makes me want to become a better person. I can only imagine how great of a guy Bridger will soon be. God Bless you

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