Justice McElwayne's bitter dissents² continued into the spring. But after the sixth loss in a row, another 5-4 split, he lost some of his spunk³. The case involved gross negligence⁴ on the part of an incompetent⁵ doctor, and when the court took away the verdict, McElwayne knew that his brethren had shifted so far to the right that they would never return.

         An orthopedic surgeon in Jackson botched a routine surgery to repair a herniated disk. His patient was rendered a paraplegic, and eventually filed suit. The doctor had been sued five times previously⁶, had lost his medical license⁷ in two other states, and had been treated on at least three occasions for addiction⁹ to painkillers¹⁰. The jury awarded the paraplegic $1.8 million for actual damages, then slapped the doctor and the hospital with $5 million in punitive¹² damages.

         Justice Fisk, in his first written opinion for the majority, declared the actual damages to be excessive and the punitive award unconscionable. The decision sent the case back for a new trial on actual damages only. Forget punitive.

         Justice McElwayne was apoplectic¹³. His dissent¹ bristled

点击收听单词发音  

1 dissent
n./v.不同意，持异议
参考例句：
It is too late now to make any dissent.现在提出异议太晚了。 He felt her shoulders gave a wriggle of dissent.他感到她的肩膀因为不同意而动了一下。

2 dissents
意见的分歧( dissent的名词复数 )
参考例句：
Even his dissents were widely quoted, and some prompted legislative changes. 甚至他那些异议也被广泛引用，而且有的还促成了法律上的修改。

3 spunk
n.勇气，胆量
参考例句：
After his death,the soldier was cited for spunk.那位士兵死后因作战勇敢而受到表彰。 I admired her independence and her spunk.我敬佩她的独立精神和勇气。

4 negligence
n.疏忽，玩忽，粗心大意
参考例句：
They charged him with negligence of duty.他们指责他玩忽职守。 The traffic accident was allegedly due to negligence.这次车祸据说是由于疏忽造成的。

5 incompetent
adj.无能力的，不能胜任的
参考例句：
He is utterly incompetent at his job.他完全不能胜任他的工作。 He is incompetent at working with his hands.他动手能力不行。

6 previously
adv.以前，先前（地）
参考例句：
The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。 Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

7 license
n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许
参考例句：
The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。 The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。

8 addict
v.使沉溺；使上瘾；n.沉溺于不良嗜好的人
参考例句：
He became gambling addict,and lost all his possessions.他习染上了赌博，最终输掉了全部家产。 He assisted a drug addict to escape from drug but failed firstly.一开始他帮助一个吸毒者戒毒但失败了。

9 addiction
n.上瘾入迷，嗜好
参考例句：
He stole money from his parents to feed his addiction.他从父母那儿偷钱以满足自己的嗜好。 Areas of drug dealing are hellholes of addiction,poverty and murder.贩卖毒品的地区往往是吸毒上瘾、贫困和发生谋杀的地方。

10 painkillers
n.止痛药( painkiller的名词复数 )
参考例句：
The doctor gave him some painkillers to ease the pain. 医生给了他一些止疼片以减缓疼痛。 来自辞典例句 The primary painkillers - opiates, like OxyContin - are widely feared, misunderstood and underused. 人们对主要的镇痛药——如鸦片剂奥施康定——存在广泛的恐惧、误解，因此没有充分利用。 来自时文部分

11 painkiller
n.止痛药
参考例句：
I shall persuade him to take the painkiller.我将说服他把药吃下去。 The painkiller only provides him a short respite from his pain.止痛药仅仅让他在疼痛中有短暂的疏解。

12 punitive
adj.惩罚的，刑罚的
参考例句：
They took punitive measures against the whole gang.他们对整帮人采取惩罚性措施。 The punitive tariff was imposed to discourage tire imports from China.该惩罚性关税的征收是用以限制中国轮胎进口的措施。

13 apoplectic
adj.中风的；愤怒的；n.中风患者
参考例句：
He died from a stroke of apoplexy.他死于中风。 My father was apoplectic when he discovered the truth.我父亲在发现真相后勃然大怒。

14 bristled
adj. 直立的，多刺毛的 动词bristle的过去式和过去分词
参考例句：
They bristled at his denigrating description of their activities. 听到他在污蔑他们的活动，他们都怒发冲冠。 All of us bristled at the lawyer's speech insulting our forefathers. 听到那个律师在讲演中污蔑我们的祖先，大家都气得怒发冲冠。

15 supreme
adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的
参考例句：
It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。 He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

16 libelous
adj.败坏名誉的，诽谤性的
参考例句：
No evidence has been found in the case so far and therefore it is probably a libelous suit.查无实据，恐怕是诬告。 The book was libelous,so the publishers had to call in all copies of it from the bookshops.这是一本诽谤性的书，所以出版商必须把店里的书全收回去。

17 feigns
假装，伪装( feign的第三人称单数 )； 捏造（借口、理由等）
参考例句：
The writer feigns many a myth. 作者想象出许多神话。 The defendant feigns illness to prolong the trial. 为了拖延审判，被告装病。

18 concurred
同意（concur的过去式与过去分词形式）
参考例句：
Historians have concurred with each other in this view. 历史学家在这个观点上已取得一致意见。 So many things concurred to give rise to the problem. 许多事情同时发生而导致了这一问题。

19 privately
adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地
参考例句：
Some ministers admit privately that unemployment could continue to rise.一些部长私下承认失业率可能继续升高。 The man privately admits that his motive is profits.那人私下承认他的动机是为了牟利。

20 analyzing
v.分析；分析( analyze的现在分词 )；分解；解释；对…进行心理分析n.分析
参考例句：
Analyzing the date of some socialist countries presents even greater problem s. 分析某些社会主义国家的统计数据，暴露出的问题甚至更大。 来自辞典例句 He undoubtedly was not far off the mark in analyzing its predictions. 当然，他对其预测所作的分析倒也八九不离十。 来自辞典例句

21 pending
prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的
参考例句：
The lawsuit is still pending in the state court.这案子仍在州法庭等待定夺。 He knew my examination was pending.他知道我就要考试了。

22 baker
n.面包师
参考例句：
The baker bakes his bread in the bakery.面包师在面包房内烤面包。 The baker frosted the cake with a mixture of sugar and whites of eggs.面包师在蛋糕上撒了一层白糖和蛋清的混合料。

23 decided
adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的
参考例句：
This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。 There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

24 reassurance
n.使放心，使消除疑虑
参考例句：
He drew reassurance from the enthusiastic applause.热烈的掌声使他获得了信心。 Reassurance is especially critical when it comes to military activities.消除疑虑在军事活动方面尤为关键。

25 lobster
n.龙虾，龙虾肉
参考例句：
The lobster is a shellfish.龙虾是水生贝壳动物。 I like lobster but it does not like me.我喜欢吃龙虾，但它不适宜于我的健康。

26 dignified
a.可敬的，高贵的
参考例句：
Throughout his trial he maintained a dignified silence. 在整个审讯过程中，他始终沉默以保持尊严。 He always strikes such a dignified pose before his girlfriend. 他总是在女友面前摆出这种庄严的姿态。

27 labored
adj.吃力的，谨慎的v.努力争取(for)( labor的过去式和过去分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转
参考例句：
I was close enough to the elk to hear its labored breathing. 我离那头麋鹿非常近，能听见它吃力的呼吸声。 来自辞典例句 They have labored to complete the job. 他们努力完成这一工作。 来自辞典例句

28 premiums
n.费用( premium的名词复数 )；保险费；额外费用；（商品定价、贷款利息等以外的）加价
参考例句：
He paid premiums on his life insurance last year. 他去年付了人寿保险费。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》 Moves are afoot to increase car insurance premiums. 现正在酝酿提高汽车的保险费。 来自《简明英汉词典》

29 frivolous
adj.轻薄的；轻率的
参考例句：
This is a frivolous way of attacking the problem.这是一种轻率敷衍的处理问题的方式。 He spent a lot of his money on frivolous things.他在一些无聊的事上花了好多钱。

30 lawsuits
n.诉讼( lawsuit的名词复数 )
参考例句：
Lawsuits involving property rights and farming and grazing rights increased markedly. 涉及财产权，耕作与放牧权的诉讼案件显著地增加。 来自辞典例句 I've lost and won more lawsuits than any man in England. 全英国的人算我官司打得最多，赢的也多，输的也多。 来自辞典例句

31 lawsuit
n.诉讼，控诉
参考例句：
They threatened him with a lawsuit.他们以诉讼威逼他。 He was perpetually involving himself in this long lawsuit.他使自己无休止地卷入这场长时间的诉讼。

32 depositions
沉积（物）( deposition的名词复数 )； （在法庭上的）宣誓作证； 处置； 罢免
参考例句：
The safety problems are more severe for low-pressure depositions because the processes often use concentrated gases. 对于低压淀积来说安全性问题更为突出，因为这种工艺通常使用高浓度的气体。 The chief method is to take depositions of parties and witnesses. 主要的方法是录取当事人和证人的宣誓证言。 来自口语例句

33 scotch
n.伤口，刻痕；苏格兰威士忌酒；v.粉碎，消灭，阻止；adj.苏格兰(人)的
参考例句：
Facts will eventually scotch these rumours.这种谣言在事实面前将不攻自破。 Italy was full of fine views and virtually empty of Scotch whiskey.意大利多的是美景，真正缺的是苏格兰威士忌。

34 bruising
adj.殊死的；十分激烈的v.擦伤(bruise的现在分词形式)
参考例句：
He suffered cracked ribs and bruising. 他断了肋骨还有挫伤。 He slipped and fell, badly bruising an elbow. 他滑倒了，一只胳膊肘严重擦伤。 来自辞典例句

35 spoke
n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说
参考例句：
They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。 The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

36 eloquently
adv. 雄辩地(有口才地, 富于表情地)
参考例句：
I was toasted by him most eloquently at the dinner. 进餐时他口若悬河地向我祝酒。 The poet eloquently expresses the sense of lost innocence. 诗人动人地表达了失去天真的感觉。

37 judicial
adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的
参考例句：
He is a man with a judicial mind.他是个公正的人。 Tom takes judicial proceedings against his father.汤姆对他的父亲正式提出诉讼。

38 haven
n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所
参考例句：
It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。 The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

39 stabilized
v.（使）稳定， （使）稳固( stabilize的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
The patient's condition stabilized. 患者的病情稳定下来。 His blood pressure has stabilized. 他的血压已经稳定下来了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

40 promising
adj.有希望的，有前途的
参考例句：
The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。 We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

41 embarrassment
n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫
参考例句：
She could have died away with embarrassment.她窘迫得要死。 Coughing at a concert can be a real embarrassment.在音乐会上咳嗽真会使人难堪。

42 accolades
n.（连结几行谱表的）连谱号( accolade的名词复数 )；嘉奖；（窗、门上方的）桃尖拱形线脚；册封爵士的仪式（用剑面在肩上轻拍一下）
参考例句：
Unlike other accolades for literature which tend to value style or experimentation. 有别于其他偏重风格活实验性的文学奖项。 来自互联网 Build your trophy room while amassing awards and accolades. 建立您的奖杯积累奖项和荣誉。 来自互联网

43 admiration
n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕
参考例句：
He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。 We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。

44 determined
adj.坚定的；有决心的
参考例句：
I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。 He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

45 pitchers
大水罐( pitcher的名词复数 )
参考例句：
Over the next five years, he became one of the greatest pitchers in baseball. 在接下来的5年时间里，他成为了最了不起的棒球投手之一。 Why he probably won't: Pitchers on also-rans can win the award. 为什麽不是他得奖：投手在失败的球队可以赢得赛扬奖。

46 chilly
adj.凉快的，寒冷的
参考例句：
I feel chilly without a coat.我由于没有穿大衣而感到凉飕飕的。 I grew chilly when the fire went out.炉火熄灭后，寒气逼人。

47 chatter
vi.／n.喋喋不休；短促尖叫；(牙齿)打战
参考例句：
Her continuous chatter vexes me.她的喋喋不休使我烦透了。 I've had enough of their continual chatter.我已厌烦了他们喋喋不休的闲谈。

48 cramped
a.狭窄的
参考例句：
The house was terribly small and cramped, but the agent described it as a bijou residence. 房子十分狭小拥挤，但经纪人却把它说成是小巧别致的住宅。 working in cramped conditions 在拥挤的环境里工作

49 coaxed
v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的过去式和过去分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱
参考例句：
She coaxed the horse into coming a little closer. 她哄着那匹马让它再靠近了一点。 I coaxed my sister into taking me to the theatre. 我用好话哄姐姐带我去看戏。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

50 afterward
adv.后来；以后
参考例句：
Let's go to the theatre first and eat afterward. 让我们先去看戏，然后吃饭。 Afterward,the boy became a very famous artist.后来，这男孩成为一个很有名的艺术家。

51 grove
n.林子，小树林，园林
参考例句：
On top of the hill was a grove of tall trees.山顶上一片高大的树林。 The scent of lemons filled the grove.柠檬香味充满了小树林。

52 gravel
n.砂跞；砂砾层；结石
参考例句：
We bought six bags of gravel for the garden path.我们购买了六袋碎石用来铺花园的小路。 More gravel is needed to fill the hollow in the drive.需要更多的砾石来填平车道上的坑洼。

53 sipping
v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的现在分词 )
参考例句：
She sat in the sun, idly sipping a cool drink. 她坐在阳光下懒洋洋地抿着冷饮。 She sat there, sipping at her tea. 她坐在那儿抿着茶。

54 widower
n.鳏夫
参考例句：
George was a widower with six young children.乔治是个带著六个小孩子的鳏夫。 Having been a widower for many years,he finally decided to marry again.丧偶多年后，他终于决定二婚了。

55 dime
n.（指美国、加拿大的钱币）一角
参考例句：
A dime is a tenth of a dollar.一角银币是十分之一美元。 The liberty torch is on the back of the dime.自由火炬在一角硬币的反面。

56 soda
n.苏打水；汽水
参考例句：
She doesn't enjoy drinking chocolate soda.她不喜欢喝巧克力汽水。 I will freshen your drink with more soda and ice cubes.我给你的饮料重加一些苏打水和冰块。

57 mere
adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过
参考例句：
That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。 It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

58 intimidating
vt.恐吓，威胁( intimidate的现在分词)
参考例句：
They were accused of intimidating people into voting for them. 他们被控胁迫选民投他们的票。 This kind of questioning can be very intimidating to children. 这种问话的方式可能让孩子们非常害怕。

59 prosecution
n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营
参考例句：
The Smiths brought a prosecution against the organizers.史密斯家对组织者们提出起诉。 He attempts to rebut the assertion made by the prosecution witness.他试图反驳原告方证人所作的断言。

60 corporate
adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的
参考例句：
This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。 His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。

61 pharmaceutical
adj.药学的，药物的；药用的，药剂师的
参考例句：
She has donated money to establish a pharmaceutical laboratory.她捐款成立了一个药剂实验室。 We are engaged in a legal tussle with a large pharmaceutical company.我们正同一家大制药公司闹法律纠纷。

62 addictive
adj.(吸毒等)使成瘾的，成为习惯的
参考例句：
The problem with video game is that they're addictive.电子游戏机的问题在于它们会使人上瘾。 Cigarettes are highly addictive.香烟很容易使人上瘾。

63 investigation
n.调查，调查研究
参考例句：
In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。 He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

64 propensities
n.倾向，习性( propensity的名词复数 )
参考例句：
This paper regarded AFT as a criterion to estimate slagging propensities. 文中以灰熔点作为判断煤灰结渣倾向的标准。 来自互联网 Our results demonstrate that different types of authoritarian regime face different propensities to develop toward democracy. 本文研究结果显示，不同的威权主义政体所面对的民主发展倾向是不同的。 来自互联网

65 addicted
adj.沉溺于....的，对...上瘾的
参考例句：
He was addicted to heroin at the age of 17.他17岁的时候对海洛因上了瘾。 She's become addicted to love stories.她迷上了爱情小说。

66 disintegrated
v.（使）破裂[分裂，粉碎]，（使）崩溃( disintegrate的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
The plane disintegrated as it fell into the sea. 飞机坠入大海时解体了。 The box was so old;it just disintegrated when I picked it up. 那箱子太破旧了，我刚一提就散了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

67 forth
adv.向前；向外，往外
参考例句：
The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。 He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

68 scintilla
n.极少，微粒
参考例句：
Not a scintilla of evidence to prove it.没有一点儿证据可以证实此事。 Novelty ignites scintilla admittedly easily,novelty always also is the prelude of the distance.新奇固然轻易点燃火花，新奇也总是距离的前奏。

69 withholding
扣缴税款
参考例句：
She was accused of withholding information from the police. 她被指控对警方知情不报。 The judge suspected the witness was withholding information. 法官怀疑见证人在隐瞒情况。

70 investigators
n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )
参考例句：
This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。 The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》