You expected wrongful death awards to be decided in a consistent way across cases?
Am I justified in seeing this as evidence of a fundamental flaw in common law systems? These things should have clear, uniform rules and not be left to a judge's discretion.
What judge? The parties mutually agreed to settle in the first example. Im not sure if Maryland has a reexamination clause in their state constitution akin to the one in the 7th amendment but generally judges have very little discretion in modifying jury awards and usually only if the jury awards more than the plaintiff asked for or if punitive damages are unconstitutionally excessive.
Again, this is comparing apples and kumquats.
