Massive tobacco suit award reduced

[M_Six]

While I have no love at all for tobacco companies, I was glad to see sanity prevail in this case. Today a judge in California reduced that $28 billion award to a woman dying of smoking induced cancer to $28 million. Still excessive, IMHO, but a step in the right direction.

Merry Christmas, indeed.

Now before I get flamed let me say that I'd love to see large awards IF the award went to charity or to pay for health care for other smokers. I just hate to see one person awarded so much for doing something that has been known to be harmful for decades.

[Knothead]

Yeah, I know what you mean, M_Six.

In all probability, the award will keep getting reduced, it's just a big legal game. The attorneys will continue to bait each other, the woman in question will die before she ever sees a dime, and what's left of the award will go to....legal fees...

Thw winners in this case: Attorneys.

Mark my word.

Hey Knothead, you could win here, too! Just refuse to play the game... QUIT SMOKING!!!

A few more days and I'm gonna bust the thread out... as a reminder...


DEATH TO THE HABIT!!!

[thekingofpain]

[sarcasm] 28 mil? now THATS abit more reasonable. [/sarcasm]

[Knothead]

Originally posted by prexaspes
Hey Knothead, you could win here, too! Just refuse to play the game... QUIT SMOKING!!!

Hehehe, Prex, never fear, quittin' day draws nigh and I'm just about ready for it. coughcoughcoughcough...

[Mr. Goodbytes]

I pray for the day that judges laugh at the plaintiffs and force them to pay the tobacco companies' legal fees.

From M_Six:

I'd love to see large awards IF the award went to charity or to pay for health care for other smokers.

What about all those awards that were given to the states? Billions upon billions of dollars intended for the treatment of tobacco-related illnesses and also for prevention. 90% of it became pork money. The government doesn't think smoking is wrong; it just wants to collect money so that it doesn't have to increase other taxes or God forbid cut wasteful spending.

[M_Six]

I have to agree with you, Mr. Goodbytes. That money was mismanaged along with everything else. A few short years ago Massachusetts had a massive budget surplus. Now they're cutting people's lifelines in the name of a balanced budget. Sure, 9/11 had a negative effect on the economy, but incompetence and mismanagement is what really emptied the barrel.

[cracked]

although i know smoking is harmful, and i think everyone should quit, i still dont think ANY money should be awarded to ANY individual for ANYTHING smoking related. if the individuals are not complete idiots, then they would have known that it was bad for a long time and they are obviously just trying to play the system.

drew

[no1_vern]

cracked

I can tell you have NEVER lost a loved one to tobacco.

Pleae remember PEOPLE HAVE DIED because tobacco companies LIED.

[Theophylact]

I actually agree (in part) with Mr. Goodbytes; I think it's a disgrace that the states are using the tobacco settlement money for non-public-health functions, like roads, schools, police and firemen's salaries, and deficit-reduction.

I'm not being ironic, either; I think those things should be paid for -- by large increases in gasoline and cigarette taxes.