Although I agree with some of wht Mattp is saying, I think its interesting that he appears to be shifting the blame away from attorneys and onto the insurance industry. Of course, the insurance industry would lead you to believe its greedy attorneys. Serendipity.
I think the biggest challenge to our tort system is a lack of personal responsibility. When I was a kid and did something stupid like jump off the roof of the house using a garbage bag as a parachute and hurt myself I was taught to take my licks and quit whining. Now its like winning the lottery: those damn garbage bag manufacturers didn't warn me against using it as a parachute.
When did we stop taking responsibility for our actions and abdicate that role to the courts?