December 26, 2002

Smoker to Accept $28 Million

This quoted article from the Burlington Free Press, December 26, 2002 displays the utter foolishness that pervades our judicial system. Attorneys who game the system in the name of justice are worse than leaches. Juries who award outrageous sums are no better. Sure, smoking causes death and disease, but that fact has been displayed on cigarette packages for decades. Here's the piece of foolishness:

Los Angeles (where else but California?) A woman with lung cancer will accept a reduced punitive damage judgment against cigarette maker Phillip Morris but will appeal a judge's decision to slash a jury's $28 billion award, her attorney said Tuesday. Superior Court Judge Warren L. Ettinger failed to properly state his reason for settling on the $28 million figure, said Michael Piuze, attorney for 64-year old Betty Bullock If Bullock did not accept the lower figure she would face a retrial of the punitive damages phase before Ettinger, Piuze said. There is no conflict in accepting the judgment and appealing the reduction, he said.

I am appalled at the absurdity of either award and the fact that the case goes on... !

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