Posted on 07/19/2014 2:06:55 PM PDT by markomalley
A Florida jury has slammed the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. with $23.6 billion in punitive damages in a lawsuit filed by the widow of a longtime smoker who died of lung cancer in 1996.
The case is one of thousands filed in Florida after the state Supreme Court in 2006 tossed out a $145 billion class action verdict. That ruling also said smokers and their families need only prove addiction and that smoking caused their illnesses or deaths.
Last year, Florida's highest court re-approved that decision, which made it easier for sick smokers or their survivors 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.
The damages a Pensacola jury awarded Friday to Cynthia Robinson after a four-week trial come in addition to $16.8 million in compensatory damages.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Does the company even have any where close to that amount??
Frito: “How many billions?”
Joe: “Like, 10.”
Frito: “Yeah, suck one. Time machine costs, like, 20.”
Joe: “Yeah? Okay. Uh, 30, Frito. Thirty billion dollars.”
Frito: “Thirty billion. So if you gave me 30 billion and the time machine’s 20— What’s the minus of 30 and 20?”
Joe: “Uh, it’s, uh, it’s 80, Frito. It’s eighty billion dollars. That’s a mighty big minus, isn’t it?”
Frito: “Yeah. I like money though.”
Ridiculous and pure political BS! This is a shakedown of an industry because the government wants it to happen. Addiction is far too broad a standard because of all the areas it can cover. Will all diabetics sue candy manufacturers? Just another example of ignoring personal responsibility and because a few do so, the government has to step in and save the rest of us through regulation. WWII was won on the backs of nicotine and caffeine so what’s in store for the future? Energy drinks?
Her husband died due to his own bad decisions.
“WWII was won on the backs of nicotine and caffeine”
And meth.
Pay $1 a year.
Diabertes is caused by carbs. Not only sugar but also potatos and rice. Bad choices are not grounds for liability.
Even I don’t agree with this. Still it’s funny.
If you’re product is politically unpopular other peoples choices apparently are grounds.
“Her husband died due to his own bad decisions.
—
I agree-—and I smoke.
It’s just another deep pockets lawsuit.
.
Certain to be reduced by a significant amount upon appeal. I wish they’d give out $1 judgments just so the lawyers can’t get sickeningly rich off these cases.
No sympathy from me for either the dead guy or his family.Absolutely none!
The side that used meth — Hitler and the Germans — lost.
How many of the state’s top Democrat donors are lawyers on this case?
In Texas, I recall John O’Quinn and other insider Dems (private practice working a public case for state) splitting a billion dollars paid out from the “out of court settlement” when several states had a class action lawsuit against Big Tobacco.
I recall in the 1940s cigarettes were called cancer sticks and coffin nails. We all knew then, it was known for generations before.
And right, sugar and fat, are likely on the way to being milked for billions -- then paper and those painful and sometimes "life-threatening" paper cuts, shoe laces coming untied . . . .
Slip-and-fall lawyers and government employees will destroy the earth!
“...the jury seemed most persuaded by 1994 C-Span footage of tobacco industry executives claiming smoking did not cause cancer and was not addictive, and by 60-year-old internal documents showing the company knew otherwise.”
Yet many a Freeper will deny nicotine is addictive.
This is-and always was-BS. Whatever substance you, as an adult drink, eat, smoke, inhale, rub on your skin, or however else you ingest/absorb it is a personal choice with personal responsibility attached-not a cash cow for trial lawyers and intrusive government. Does someone want to tell me again how it is GOOD for us if nanny government unselfishly “protects” us from ourselves? What party do the trial lawyers donate to/support?
My husband died from lung cancer too. I’ll take some. LOL!
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