California Jury Awards Former Smoker Record $28 Billion

AP via NYTimes.com ^ | 10/4/02

[GeneD]

Philip Morris's reaction.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

$28 Billion

You have got to be kidding!

[My2Cents]

Apparently, this suit might allow someone to sue Playboy Magazine for their contracting venereal disease.

[RAT Patrol]

Hello. It's a legal substance. This is theft.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Apparently, this suit might allow someone to sue Playboy Magazine for their contracting venereal disease.

Or Blindness.

[breakem]

Stop the world. I want to get off.

[gov_bean_ counter]

The BS in this is beyond belief. Thirty-five years ago as an elementary school student my class was visited by some health person who did an anti-smoking demonstration.

They had a beaker with cotton in it. The stopper on top had two tube to facilitate air in and out. Smoke was blown into the cotton filled beaker to illustrate smoke staying in the lungs. Nasty stuff.

[JimSEA]

``Testimony during the trial showed that Ms. Bullock was aware of the health risks of smoking and was warned repeatedly of those risks by her doctors over four decades, and her daughter also urged her to quit. Her response: 'I am an adult, this is my business.'''

In view of this, the only explaination of the verdict is anti-capitalism. Put the "corporate profiteers" out of busines and, eventually, into "re-education camps". With all that has happened lately, this is as important a headline as any. Our way of life is threatened from within and from without. I live in Thailand a good portion of the year. Even with the socialist leanings of the government there, the lawyers have not gotten ahold of the purse-strings yet and lawsuites are limited to actual damages. The result, my visit to the doctor's office costs me $5 US vs. $65 US here in Oregon (it may be noted that my doctor there drives a Mercedes and lives in a 6 BR villa).

Sometimes lately it is hard to tell if the bigger crooks are in the boardroom or the courtroom. Probably the CEO's and CFO's know they only have a short time left to make a killing before the entire corporate structure collapses.

[fourdeuce82d]

I don't care if Philip Morris gave ciggarettes away to toddlers- once you're an adult, it's your responsibility- period

That jury better hope recto-cranial inversion doesn't cause cancer.

[Congressman Billybob]

One more step toward "government of the lawyers, by the lawyers and for the lawyers." Another sleazoid trial lawyer generates more money for the Democrats to keep the bank vault doors open for what I call the "sand in the gears of the American economy" -- trial lawyers.

Of course, this verdict will be reduced on appeal, but still the lawyer will get millions, and the beat goes on.

I wrote about this in my seventh book. Use the second link below.

Congressman Billybob

Click for "Til Death Do Us Part."

Click for "to Restore Trust in America"

Click for "Death as a Political Strategy"

[LA-Lawyer]

WOW! I've met Mike Piuze. Tall, very thin, uncropped beard. The most low-key, self-depricating and nicest guy you'll ever meet.

But dont' worry, FRolks, the $28 Bil. verdict will be remitted [i.e. reduced drastically, if not totally thrown out.]

[Bush2000]

I wouldn't worry about it. This penalty will be reduced to about $1M on appeal. Juries are filled with morons (OJ, anybody?) and, clearly, this woman's life was not worth $28B.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

this woman's life was not worth $28B.

Now how do you know that?

[CdMGuy]

It looks like this case was tried in Los Angeles' downtown courthouse. This court is referred to by lawyers as The Bank. It is known for outrageous jury verdicts, both civil and criminal (remember OJ), and as the juries are very heavily minority and government employees, e.g. postal workers.

[Bush2000]

I don't mean as a human being. Society has a limited amount of resources. $28B is a hugely disproportionate number of resources to concentrate on one person for specious reasons. The surgeon general's warning over smoking has existed for a LONG time. Nobody can argue credibly that they weren't warned about the dangers of smoking. It's the cult of victimhood at its worst.

[Free the USA]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[Ruth A.]

This is beyond ridiculous. I am thinking that when she was 17 smoking was illegal for minors. So, she had to break the law to smoke. All this shows is her stupidity. Ignoring the warnings on the cartons, education in school, billboards and public service ads was quite a feat for 40 years. One, which was impossible, BTW.

Yes, smoking is bad for you, but people need to accept the consequences of their actions.

[Nuke'm Glowing]

Actually that plays quite well into the liberal facism handbook. Think about it. Any company that doesn't comply with health, race, economic, etc. demands from some lunatic fringe is sued to death. The companies and the consumers, seeking price relief, eventually convince the government to nationalize or allow the states to "manage own and operate" the company operating from within it's state. It's backdoor socialism with a facist tinge. You pass a law restricting the sale and use of a legal product. Then you sue the manufacturers. I can see our nation going communist any day now. Especially when laws start getting passed allowing the large money center banks to be nationalized now that entire nations can go bankrupt on them, wiping out their portfolios. Welcome to the new century. Park your rights at the door. Hand your wallet to the PC policeman at the entrance.

[republicman]

I smoked for 17 years, then quit

I must be a fool, I could've been a billionaire!

These suits used to lose every time now they're winning, America, more and more, is becoming a scapegoat culture.

[republicman]

I smoked for 17 years, then quit

I must be a fool, I could've been a billionaire!

These suits used to lose every time now they're winning, America, more and more, is becoming a scapegoat culture.