介绍:
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In today's OU section, we'll talk about a chain smoker's widow being awarded 23 billion US dollars in a lawsuit.
A chain smoker's widow has successfully sued cigarette maker RJ Reynolds in Florida and was awarded more than 23 billion dollars, making this the state's largest judgment from a wrongful death lawsuit by a single plaintiff.
Cynthia Robinson's husband, who smoked between 1 and 3 packs a day since the age of thirteen, died at 36 from lung cancer in 1998.
During the trial, lawyers argued that RJ Reynolds was negligent in informing consumers of the potential hazards caused from smoking cigarettes.
After the four week trial, the jury awarded Mrs. Robinson 7.3 million dollars in compensatory damages and 9.6 million to her late husband's son from a previous marriage. The same jury then deliberated for an additional 7 hours before awarding the widow an additional 23 billion dollars in punitive damages.
The percentage of people smoking in the United States has dropped to 18% as opposed to 42% in the 1960s.
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(JA)Daniel Krieg from the guardian.com comments
The Surgeon General of the untied states has required health warnings on cigarette packs since 1966. It was very well known when I was in 2nd grade in 1965 that smoking was bad for you. Anyone who started smoking since 1966 and died of lung cancer should get nothing. Nobody forces you to smoke, it is a choice you make and therefore you have to deal with the consequences of your stupidity.
(QD) Phil Coates from france24.com comments
Why is the sale of pot for the inhalation of marijuana smoke deemed OK when the sale of cigarettes for the inhalation of tobacco smoke brings a fine of $40 billion?
(FA) aulusmagnus from the guardian.com comments
Smoking is harmful, deadly when carried to excess, but so is consuming too much fat, using too much salt and a host of other things. We can't bankrupt every company that makes a product that someone likes too much. Otherwise, we are denying ourselves of products that we like in the proper amounts.
Notes:
- the case is one of thousands filed in florida after the state supreme court tossed out a $145 billion class action verdict in 2006
- that ruling had also stated that smokers and their families need only to prove addiction and that smoking caused their illness or deaths.
- Last year Florida's highest court re-approved that decision, which made it easier for sick smokers or their survivours to pursue lawsuits against tobacco companies without having to prove to the court again that Big Tobacco knowingly sold dangerous products and hid the hazards of cigarette smoking.
- Reynold's vice president and assistant general counsel J. Jeffery Raborn called the damages in Robinson's case "grossly excessive and impermissible under the state and constitutional law"
(JA) Vassil Daskalov from dailymail.co.uk comments
How did she prove that her husband smopked only cigarettes made by that particular company? Shouldn't all tobacco brands be held accountable for his untimely death? Also,who will compensate all other untold millions of people who died due to tobacco use? Will all of them get 20+ bln USD as well? Who will pay this money and wouldn't the world economy collapse again if such an amount of money even exists?
(QD) totto from dailymail.co.uk says
Firstly, the government levies taxes on the sale of cigarettes and has received revenue from that. Therefore, the government has approved such activities. Second, state supreme court decides that the government approved sale of cigarettes is now responsible for the killing of a human being. At this point, I'm confused.
(FA) Kevin Gifford from rt.com says
He smoked up to 3 packets a day and was surprised he got lung cancer? Come on, this is about GREED, not justice. What's next? Sue ford motor company after wrecking your car? Only in the US…
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