Basically the verdict was a suggestion that they should have settled out of court. But the case certainly helped start the public perception of sue-happy Americans. Gentlemen, of course, would never have sued in such a case because poor old Ruskin didn’t quite have his wits about him and you don’t kick a man when he’s down.
Trump seems determined to keep the stereotype of the sue-happy non-gentleman American businessman alive and well.
[edit - as I recall - I am very old - Punch reported the case like this:
“I sits and paints
Has no complaints
And sell before I’m dry
Then savage Ruskin
Sticks his tusk in
And nobody will buy.”]
