Not all the frivilous lawsuit business is recent. In 1955 or 1966, our family was sitting at a red light when a drunk plowed into us from behind. Dad had severe whiplash for awhile, but no one else in our car was injured. The drunk's wife and mother-in-law were riding with him. None of them appeared injured, but the MIL was so drunk she was semi-or-less conscious. Some weeks later we got a subpoena; the MIL was suing both her son-in-law and my father. We spent two days in court. When the proceeding reached an appropriate point, our insurance company lawyer approached the bench. The judge dismissed my father as plainly not at fault.