It costs a lot to sue a magazine, and it’s too bad that we don’t have a system where the losing team has to pay the winning team’s lawyers.

Burnett is pointing to the practical deterrent that litigation costs create, especially when an individual challenges a well-funded media organization. Her remark implicitly critiques the American Rule on attorney’s fees (each side typically pays its own lawyers), suggesting that a “loser pays” system would discourage meritless defenses and make it more feasible for plaintiffs with valid claims to seek redress. The quote also reflects a broader concern about access to justice: when legal costs are prohibitive, wrongdoing can go unchallenged. Coming from a public figure who had reason to confront press misconduct, it underscores how procedural rules can shape who can afford to vindicate their rights.