It often cuts the other way, that is, unfairly against a large corporation or industry. General aviation is an industry that has been hurt unfairly, for instance, by product liability lawsuits.
Piper aircraft went out of business a few years back *precisely and exclusively* because of their policy of fighting each and every product libility lawsuit that came along.
Low sales were not the problem; Piper had over one BILLION dollars in backlogged firm orders when they went under! (And remeber they only made little airplanes!)
The 'last straw' lawsuit involved a single engine Piper that crashed shortly after T/O when the engine failed. Piper did not make the engine, of course, but Piper was ajudged liable since they "failed to provide a second engine to permit a safe return to the airport in case of engine failure". How freaking ridiculous is that?!
If we followed that logic, soon there would be NO beach cats (except homebuilt) beacause legal precedents would inevitably arise attacking each and every shortcoming of the class when compared to a 'state of the art' transport category vessel. That's where GA was headed; thankfully the congress intervened. Otherwise the cheapest airplane you could buy right now would be the cheapest transport category aircraft which meets all gov't safety stds. and cost about $4 million.
That would be like suing the maker of a beach cat because it does not have a motor to ensure saftey in case of becalming, or life boats in case of sinking or WHATEVER! If you operate one of these boats, then you know and hopefully assess and manage these risks properly within the context of your life, rather than relying on blamesmanship after the fact.

Just One Man's Opinion

Jimbo