(NFT) 3 Billion Dollar Judgement against Phillip Morris

[bkkcoh]

Here is the link for the story :

[url]http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20010607/bs/tobacco_trial.html[/url]


I almost think we need change our jury system. This judgment is absurd. The more I hear of enormous judgements, the more I think we should almost go to a professional type of jury system.

I agree that people that were effected by tobacco back in the 50's and 60's might have been duped, but since then no one has any excuse not to know that tobacco could be harmful to one's life.

If tobacco is so bad for you, the goverenment should step in and declare it a harmful substance and regulate as a drug.

[b]When are people going to be held accountable for their actions?[/b]

[Bob Dole]

[quote]When are people going to be held accountable for their actions?[/quote]

It appears that the answer to your question is "never." (At least not in this country.)

[alanm]

I smoke and when I started I didn't have any pretense of becoming addicted. Therefore the cigarette companies and their product addicted me. I should then be able to file a lawsuit that could pay me millions. I'm not that greedy. :D

[Clint in Wichita]

If tobacco companies don't like these high judgements, they can stop selling cigarettes. Until then, they should feel lucky to be able to sell an addictive narcotic over the counter in exchange for a percentage of their profit.

Cocaine and marijuana dealers aren't given that option, and they should be IMO.

[BIG_DADDY]

A predictable responce from Socialist Clint.:rolleyes:

clint,

to use the arguments that come up for other issues..."its legal, so smokers should be able to kill themselves if they want"


I don't smoke...Spent the majority of my childhood watching 2 of my grandparents and 2 other family members choke to death from lung cancer....leaves a lasting impression on a youngster....Lung cancer is a terrible thing....

But I don't think I can be convinced that these people didn't know smoking was bad for them.....its a risk you take when you have a bad habbit....and $3billion is just absurd.....It doesn't bring them back.

~smoking is bad...um-kay

[KCTitus]

This verdict reminds me of the OJ verdict. Product Liability claims have been a real boon for the trial lawyers, who are the only group getting 'paid' in these situations.

Asbestos, Silicon Implants, and Tobacco...

So much for common sense.

[Mark M]

I'm a smoker. Started when I was 14. If I die from it ... well, it's my own stupidity. The fact these people are suing, and [i]winning[/i], shows how far down this country has gone.

MM
~~Candidate for natural selection.

[Clint in Wichita]

Well, we'll see how tobacco companies like it when their product is banned altogether.

[bkkcoh]

KCTitus,

I would almost agree with you on the OJ verdict, but the police dropped the ball with a key piece of evidence(blood) and if that was true, the rest of the evidence (various other blood stains) had to be called into question. I do believe OJ did the murders, but if you throw out the tainted evidence, they have a heck of a lot harder time proving guilt.

The OJ situation was a total joke for the American (in)Justice system. :mad:

[Mark M]

Clint--
Yeah right. You, I and everyone else on this board will be long gone by then. The FDA may control it, but I doubt it will be banned in our lifetime.

MM
~~Wishes he never started smoking, but blames only himself.

[Clint in Wichita]

You're probably right. Unlike other drug dealers, they can and do make large campaign contributions.

[KCTitus]

The Fed and State govts cant afford to let cigarettes be banned. The tax money generated via sales as well as these lawsuits which are re-distributed to the states are financial windfalls.

Lets not forget that Phillip Morris also owns Kraft Foods, one of the largest food companies. Even IF this judgement were to stand, dont think for one minute, they wont increase prices on other products to 'pay' the trial lawyers who won this case.

bkkcoh: your last line says it all...this is a joke as well. No more than 10-15 years ago, people who tried to sue tobacco companies stating that they didnt know they would get sick used to be laughed out of court. Now, they're winning 3billion dollar judgements from the class envious jurors. A complete joke...unfortunately, these idiots dont realize the joke is on them, because they will pay for it.

[KCTitus]

Clint: drug dealers do make contributions...see the 1996 presidential election.

[Clint in Wichita]

Yeah, right.