# Katrina victim sues for $3 quadrillion. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 10, 2008, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina-victim-sues-for-3-quadrillion/432962 "2008-01-10T08:01:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina-victim-sues-for-3-quadrillion/432962/1 "2008-01-10T08:01:55Z")
[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22571349/?GT1=10755](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22571349/?GT1=10755) > [@](#): > > NEW ORLEANS - Hurricane Katrina’s victims have put a price tag on their suffering and it is staggering — including one plaintiff seeking the unlikely sum of $3 quadrillion. > > The total number — $3,014,170,389,176,410 — is the dollar figure so far sought from some 489,000 claims filed against the federal government over damage from the failure of levees and flood walls following the Aug. 29, 2005, hurricane. The identifty of the person seeking 3 quadrillion bucks is apprently unknown: > [@](#): > > Little is known about the person who claimed $3 quadrillion. It was filed in Baker, 93 miles northwest of New Orleans. Baker is far from the epicenter of Katrina’s destruction, but the city has a trailer park where hundreds of evacuees have lived since the storm. After some independent research of my own, I have been able to uncover a photograph of the person seeking the 3 quadrillion clams. [This is him](http://arbyte.us/blog_archive/2005/11/drevil_million_dollars.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina-victim-sues-for-3-quadrillion/432962/2 "2008-01-10T08:27:39Z")
Is it just me, or does that second paragraph suggest that that is the gross total claimed by all the plaintiffs? It doesn’t seem to fit the rest of the article. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina-victim-sues-for-3-quadrillion/432962/3 "2008-01-10T08:32:44Z")
[QUOTE=thelurkinghorror] Is it just me, or does that second paragraph suggest that that is the gross total claimed by all the plaintiffs? It doesn’t seem to fit the rest of the article. [/QUOTE] Nah, you have to realize just how big 3 quadrillion is. The U.S. Gross Domestic Product is only 13.2 _trillion_. One quadrillion is **one thousand trillions** , meaning it’s more money than the combined GDP of every country on the planet. What the number 3,014,170,389,176,410 suggests is you’ve got that one three quadrillion claim and then 14 **trillion** worth of other claims. The Army Corps of Engineers is reporting that several hundred people have made multi-billion dollar claims, most of these are probably what has gotten the total number sans the 3 quadrillion up to 14 trillion, 14 trillion is still huge and still bigger than the GDP of the United States. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina-victim-sues-for-3-quadrillion/432962/4 "2008-01-10T08:44:11Z")
:smack: Yeah of course. I jumped right to assuming that AP was approximating the amount. That claim sure took gumption. ---
**Author:** ![Oregon\_sunshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/50afbb/32.png) [@Oregon\_sunshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oregon_sunshine)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina-victim-sues-for-3-quadrillion/432962/5 "2008-01-10T11:34:55Z")
I wasn’t even there (NOLA that is) and I think this is actually a good thing. A government should fear being crippled financially (since taking money is the only way to punish a corporation) when it leaves its citizens for days to suffer and perish after a natural disaster. There was no excuse for what was done to the people of New Orleans after that hurricane! ---
**Author:** ![Coil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Coil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coil)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina-victim-sues-for-3-quadrillion/432962/6 "2008-01-10T12:00:08Z")
[QUOTE=Oregon sunshine] A government should fear being crippled financially (since taking money is the only way to punish a corporation) [/QUOTE] You know the government get its money through taxes right? So who do you think would pay the 3 quadrillion in the end? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina-victim-sues-for-3-quadrillion/432962/7 "2008-01-10T12:11:02Z")
Hey, some of thse double wide trailers that got blown away were REALLY nice! ---
**Author:** ![Hakuna\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hakuna\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hakuna_Matata)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina-victim-sues-for-3-quadrillion/432962/8 "2008-01-10T13:03:04Z")
[QUOTE=Boyo Jim] Hey, some of thse double wide trailers that got blown away were REALLY nice! [/QUOTE] Well that and the time off from work that you have to make up for. 3 Quadrillion seems reasonable to me! ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina-victim-sues-for-3-quadrillion/432962/9 "2008-01-10T14:26:24Z")
In essence asking for three quadrillion dollars is asking to conceptually destroy the planet economically. So your little patch of swamp and alligators done got tore up by the big wind. Seems fair to destroy life on earth as we know it in return. ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina-victim-sues-for-3-quadrillion/432962/10 "2008-01-10T14:34:30Z")
[QUOTE=Oregon sunshine] I wasn’t even there (NOLA that is) and I think this is actually a good thing. A government should fear being crippled financially (since taking money is the only way to punish a corporation) when it leaves its citizens for days to suffer and perish after a natural disaster. There was no excuse for what was done to the people of New Orleans after that hurricane! [/QUOTE] This is a whoosh, right? Not even Dick Cheney would make that much money over a lifetime. How can you possibly justify that anyone is worth that much money? And what have the people who are filing these incredibly large dollar amount suits with their lives since they relocated? I’ll bet _you_ 3 quadrillion dollars that at least 75% of them are just sitting around waiting for a handout. ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina-victim-sues-for-3-quadrillion/432962/11 "2008-01-10T14:57:49Z")
I am of the opinion that he should get nothing. Someone who chooses to live in a major flood zone/hurricane zone/tornado alley/earthquake fault line/etc. and does not have proper insurance is a fool. (Someone who lives somewhere fairly calm weather-wise and doesn’t have proper insurance is also a fool, but that is neither here nor there.) To live in New Orleans or Lubbock or Miami you need to understand that it is not a matter of IF your home will be effected by a natural disaster but WHEN your home will be effected by a natural disaster and prepare for that situation by making sure your property is protected both physically and financially. You need to have storm shutters on your windows and both flood and wind endorsements on your insurance policy. You need to have a fireproof safe for your important documents and acceptable insurance deductables. Then if you have taken those precautions and the company doesn’t live up to their end of the deal you can go to court and sue someone who _actually_ owes you something. ---
**Author:** ![Oregon\_sunshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/50afbb/32.png) [@Oregon\_sunshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oregon_sunshine)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina-victim-sues-for-3-quadrillion/432962/12 "2008-01-10T15:08:21Z")
A whoosh, maybe, as far as the amount goes. But even I up here in the PNW I could see that while the government waited, people suffered and died. And which one of these assholes who sat there with their thumbs up their butts got punished in any way? In lieu of jailing them for incompetence, at the very least some monetary punishment might be some recompense for what was (not) done. I’m looking at it from the perspective that asking for a giant settlement will result in said settlement being reduced somewhat. Of course, with our current legal system the actual people responsible wouldn’t be touched by any of this so it’s all a wash. Sorry… it was 3 am when I posted and I may not have been thinking the clearest. But would be good if there were _some_ consequences for the people who sat in ivory towers while vulnerable folks in NOLA died… right? ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina-victim-sues-for-3-quadrillion/432962/13 "2008-01-10T15:17:36Z")
The people who were injured and the relatives of those who died do deserve some compensation but the man suing for 3 quadrillion dollars was fine as far as I have heard. The only thing that happened to him was that his trailer is no longer in a condtion to be lived in. ---
**Author:** ![Hakuna\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hakuna\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hakuna_Matata)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina-victim-sues-for-3-quadrillion/432962/14 "2008-01-10T16:00:51Z")
[QUOTE=Oregon sunshine] A whoosh, maybe, as far as the amount goes. But even I up here in the PNW I could see that while the government waited, people suffered and died. And which one of these assholes who sat there with their thumbs up their butts got punished in any way? In lieu of jailing them for incompetence, at the very least some monetary punishment might be some recompense for what was (not) done. I’m looking at it from the perspective that asking for a giant settlement will result in said settlement being reduced somewhat. Of course, with our current legal system the actual people responsible wouldn’t be touched by any of this so it’s all a wash. Sorry.. it was 3 am when I posted and I may not have been thinking the clearest. But would be good if there were _some_ consequences for the people who sat in ivory towers while vulnerable folks in NOLA died… right? [/QUOTE] Just ‘where’ do you think that money in the government comes from? Who are you trying to punish? Yourself and other tax payers? Do you think the guy with his thumb up his butt is paying this out of his pocket? You maybe should take a nap and come back when you are awake 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Qazzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/aeb1de/32.png) [@Qazzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qazzz)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina-victim-sues-for-3-quadrillion/432962/15 "2008-01-10T16:28:25Z")
The nerve of some people! I’d be happy with just $1 quadrillion. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina-victim-sues-for-3-quadrillion/432962/16 "2008-01-10T17:04:38Z")
My money is on the guy who sued the dry-celaners for a 100 million pair of pants. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina-victim-sues-for-3-quadrillion/432962/17 "2008-01-10T17:08:29Z")
The thing is, assuming its not a joke, the asshole who did it probably actually thinks he deserves that much, and can give you a detailed explanation why. ---
**Author:** ![bannerrefugee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c68b51/32.png) [@bannerrefugee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bannerrefugee)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina-victim-sues-for-3-quadrillion/432962/18 "2008-01-10T17:44:47Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] The thing is, assuming its not a joke, the asshole who did it probably actually thinks he deserves that much, and can give you a detailed explanation why. [/QUOTE] It must be a joke…right? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina-victim-sues-for-3-quadrillion/432962/19 "2008-01-10T21:51:24Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] The thing is, assuming its not a joke, the asshole who did it probably actually thinks he deserves that much, and can give you a detailed explanation why. [/QUOTE] Someone said to him, “I’m sure you feel all the money in the world can’t repay you for your loss”, and his eyes lit up and he said, “No but that’s a start.” ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina-victim-sues-for-3-quadrillion/432962/20 "2008-01-10T21:57:58Z")
[QUOTE=Sean Factotum] I’ll bet _you_ 3 quadrillion dollars that at least 75% of them are just sitting around waiting for a handout. [/QUOTE] First, prove you even _have_ 3 quadrillion dollars. 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina-victim-sues-for-3-quadrillion/432962.md?page=2)