In ethics or metaphysics, the “law of unintended consequences” states that, for any willed action, there are consequences that occur which are not intended.  The concept has long existed, but was named and popularized in the 20th century by American sociologist Robert K. Merton.

Merton would have been fascinated by laws that were intended

Got into a discussion recently with some of my policyholder counsel friends. They were lamenting the death of bad faith law in New Jersey.  When a carrier unreasonably denies or delays paying a claim, the key case is supposed to be Pickett v. Lloyd’s, 131 N.J. 457 (1993), which was written by the late