Posted on 02/04/2005 1:31:12 PM PST by Blood of Tyrants
A federal appeals court on Friday ruled that the Justice Department cannot force cigarette makers to pay up to $280 billion in past profits as part of its racketeering case against the industry.
The Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled 2-1 that federal law does not provide for the monetary "disgorgement" penalty the government is seeking as part of the case that went to trial in September.
"We hold that the language of [the racketeering law] and the comprehensive remedial scheme of [the racketeering law] preclude disgorgement as a possible remedy in this case," the opinion of the majority said.
The decision strips the government of its most powerful weapon in the case.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
One is an anti-smoking zealot jeremiad-set to music-and the other is a cover-with the help of William Shatner-of a classic "Pulp" tune.
Common People
20-03
I don't know if that's how the title of the song is actually written out.
It could be 2-003, but the idea is essentially the same.
It's a broadside against Mayor Bloomberg-and Ken Livingstone's-attempt to harass smokers with cumbersome new municipal government regulations.
MO up. RAI up.
Tobacco is a legal product. If states want "money" they can tax it more....which most seem to be doing.
I really don't know how the lawmakers think they can continue trying to pull the wool over the public's eye. More people are finding out the ROOT of the problem concerning cigarette taxes and why they are being raised so much.
BloomingIdiot can say all he wants, but he has a huge scam going when it comes to NYC cigarettes. The whole state of New York has this big scam going!
bttt
:)
Interesting. Since guns are alos a legal product, then trying to sue the gunmakers for their misuse could also be put under this ruling.
Good! Government has no business being the mafia! We have Italians for that and they HATE the competition.
Back to George Soro's to bail us out !!!
>>I hope that the lawyers that were counting on a multi-billion dollar payday are out on the window ledge as we speak.<<
I would like to second that.
Bump again.
What do you call 10,000 lawyers on a ledge?
Ans: A good start.
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