As far as the swimming pool deal, I know my community has an ordinance that if you have a swimming pool it has to be in an entirely fenced-in yard. As I understand it, if you don't and a kid wanders into your backyard and drowns, you could be held to have at least some responsibility. If your yard is properly fenced in and a kid scales the fence and jumps in the pool and drowns, you've done "due diligence" and would not be able to be sued or tried.
It might be interesting to trace back where some of the 'urban myths' about lawsuits being out of control come from...I suspect some may have been started by large companies having trouble with lawsuits, like tobacco companies or major polluters, who would like to see the existing laws softened.
