oil companies?
Dont you think everyone could make a pretty good case? They have a multi-billion/year net profit, isnt the public entitled to some of that via the courts?
2006-07-14 14:48:19 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
I said through the courts
2006-07-14 14:52:45 · update #1
It would seem you have a point as some also had settlements from auto insurance companies who had been OVERCHARGING for premiums.
2006-07-14 14:53:12 · answer #1 · answered by midnightdealer 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The suits against the tobacco companies are not based on their profits, but on the fact that they earned those profits by committing a public fraud. They had scientific studies showing the health risks of smoking in the 1950s and they suppressed this information. This is the basis of al tobacco suits.
Simply because an individual or a company or an industry group earns a large profit is no reason to:
1) blame them! you are perfectly free not to buy gas. The mileage of an SUV is clearly written on the window sheet.
2) sue them! the courts are for resolving actual legal disputes or determining criminal responsibility - not for seizing private property.
If you think oil companies have committed a fraud or are in a criminal conspiracy - by all means institute your suit. But in this country, we have not yet sunk to level of seizing money on the basis of "public entitlement."
2006-07-14 15:05:01 · answer #2 · answered by Mr. Knowitall 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are you entitled to a portion of Bill Gate fortune because you use a computer? How about Wal-Mart's because you shop there? How about Johnny Depp's from the latest Pirates movie because you watched it in a theater? Most businesses today operate to make a profit. It's about supply and demand. They have what we want and need. Are you suggesting that the world boycott oil (i.e. gasoline)? Hello, the price I pay for gas is nothing compared to the price I would pay if I did not pay for it. I couldn't ge to work, I couldn't pay my bills, I would be another government statistic.
2006-07-14 15:05:27 · answer #3 · answered by psdumas_62 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What case could we bring? We are not entitled to their profit. It is a private company, want to share their profit?, buy some shares of a large oil company, or start your own. They work to bring you a product and you pay them for that product, their goal is to make a profit, don't want them to profit, then get the oil yourself or don't buy it.
2006-07-14 14:54:52 · answer #4 · answered by Paul M 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The public isn't entitled to any of the profit. This is America. If you do not like it, move to Cuba.
2006-07-14 14:52:06 · answer #5 · answered by televisionmademewhatiam 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dam right! The public can claim a right to health, and the freedom from having to breath oil caused pollutants, and the damage that pollutants do to our quality of health.
2006-07-14 15:18:31 · answer #6 · answered by zclifton2 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think its because people know tobacco kills and when they get cancer, they want to sue because they want the money. However, you can't smoke oil so people not thinking civil suits against the oil companies. When they come out with smoke-able oil, you'll definitely see more of that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2006-07-14 14:54:42 · answer #7 · answered by Sexy Lady E 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Interesting - I wonder if a civil suit in Environmental Law could prevail?
2006-07-14 14:58:25 · answer #8 · answered by Scarp 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yeah, sure...let's sue Microsoft and McDonalds and Target and Wal Mart and Dairy Queen and Bed, Bath and Beyond, and Safeway and 7/11 and Kragen and Walgreens and Merck and AT&T and everybody...
2006-07-14 14:55:33 · answer #9 · answered by R J 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
good question but what about the other end of addictions alot of people do get cancer or die another painfull or have lost every thing from jobs to family because they cannot stop drinking
2006-07-14 15:00:52 · answer #10 · answered by betty g 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋