FACT-CHECKING MORT ZUCKERMAN: Howard Kurtz points out that some of those frivolous lawsuit stories are, well, not true.

The real problem, in my opinion, isn’t garden-variety frivolous lawsuits, but the use of the tort system to end-run the regulatory process, as in tobacco — and as has been attempted with firearms and fast food. Doing that is an effort by people in the government to subcontract the legislation process to private interests, without democratic safeguards. I think it is unfortunate that people have been distracted from this concern by bogus stories of slip-and-fall chicanery.

Plus: Orrin Hatch apologizes! But for the wrong thing.