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$28 Billion

You have got to be kidding!

``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.

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.