So exonerated death row inmate Nick Yarris has settled his $22 million lawsuit against the county for millions (unofficially $4m). He spends 22 years in jail under threat of a death sentence. And all he gets is $4 million. That $181,818.18 for each year of incarceration.

Is that enough?

My boss, Heron's Nest, says no. He says not even $22 million is enough. And who am I to disagree with him?

I'll tell ya' who: I'm F. Gilman F. Spencerblog, that's who! (And that F doesn't stand for Frederick.)

Here's how I look at it. Would I take $22 million to spend 22 years in jail? No.
But would I take $4 million after the fact to get on with my new life? You betcha.

Nick is now married, living in England with a wife and baby. He's 46, young enough to have to have a pretty nice and comfortable life ahead of him.

He took the money and ran. Good for him. That's what I'd do.

Compare him to H. Beatty Chadwick, who has spent 13 years in prison to hold on to a crummy $2 million of his own money, instead of sharing it with his ex.

Of course, when Chadwick went to jail he didn't expect to stay there on a contempt charge for 13 years.

Just goes to show a law degree doesn't confer wisdom and 21 years on death row don't necessarily remove all common sense.