How do you feel about the 79.5 million awarded to widow of long time smoker?

Question

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061031/ap_on_go_su_co/scotus_punitive_damages_2

What I don't understand is that the widow claims that for a decade, the Philip Morris company denied that cigarettes caused cancer, or that her husband never saw any paperwork from them that would say it did cause cancer. Also, she claims that they didn't pay attention to the Surgeon Generals warning labels because the Phillip Morris company said cigarettes were not a health risk. This is where PC crap comes in, I would have that jury on deadlock if they tried awarding her that much money. I think it is a concious descicion of people to smoke, and even a decade ago, cigarettes were know to be fatal in the long term. That's why there are Surgeon General warnings on the damn packs. What do you think, I think she doesn't deserve 79.5 million, maybe 10 grand if that.

Answer 1

Is there anyone who really believe that smoking doesn't cause cancer? The Surgeon Generals didn't FORCE the cigarette manufactures of put the warning on for no reason..

How could he not see the paperwork? It was on EVERY pack he bought. It's been in the NEWS for decades. There were songs about it.

Next how do we know what he believed? We can't question him now, why didn't HE file the case when he got cancer? Had he started that action and gave a deposition then we would know what he said. Instead we have his widow claim that he didn't believe the warnings.

If I was on that jury she wouldn't have got a dime.

But, wait a minuet I remember a study that proved vitamin, C, and E causes cancer in rats. Maybe I should sue Minute Maid. Yes that's it I want my Millions right Now.

If you smoke don't be surprised when you get cancer and don't expect me to feel sorry for you.

Answer 2

This is bad law. The government has had the warning on cigarettes for decades. The public, not just the tobacco companies, have made it clear that they did not want cigarettes banned. The problem, as I see it, is having allowed the first case to ever succeed without being overturned. Juries should not be allowed to set damage awards. All they ever do is "send a message." It is awful to lose a loved one to any illness or accident, but we have gone too far in our courts in dishing out rewards to individuals. Our government should be stepping up and punishing companies that lie, cheat, steal, defraud or harm the public in any way and the fines should go to the government treasury.

Answer 3

I don't think she deserved that much money,but neither does phillip morris co. Lots of people lose loved ones to cigarette addictions, none of those widows try to get rich because of it. on the other hand tobacco companies really don't care about the welfare of any one. they just want to make money. they can put as many labels as they want on their packs. people are still going to smoke. If they really cared about people they would stop tainting the natural tobacco with chemicals that make them so addictive. or better yet stop making cigarettes. people will always do things to their bodies that are not healthy like junk food, laziness, drug addiction. The manufacturers of those items know this. they count on it.

Answer 4

Granted, this is hearsay, anecdotal evidence -- all that bad stuff...

But my dad quit smoking in 1962 when the surgeon general said smoking caused cancer. Cold turkey. My dad had access to the same public information everyone else in the country did at the time. Anyone since then, at least, who smoked has no kind of excuse. They made a bad choice to ignore established facts, and expect someone else to foot the bill for their poor judgment.

Answer 5

Maybe she should have to pay the legal bill for Philip Morris...I would like to see where/how PM let her know smoking was not hazardous.....some one else looking for a hand-out! I wonder if people don't realize the impact on America if the cigarette companies move out.....know for a fact they are ready if the need arises.

Answer 6

She deserves only what his paid life insurance policy was worth.At 16 when I took my first drag off a cigarett, coughed,turned green and was sick,I was intelligent enough to know they were poison to my body!!Smoking is a personal choice.He should have made better decisions.

Answer 7

By the time eveyone gets started on solicitating her to get all this money, she'll either wish she had died too, or she'll have to spend it on her own personal compound to be safe from predators! Hopefully, she'll put it to good use. The legal fees alone are gonna cost millions.

Answer 8

I wonder if this widow is looking to adopt a daughter?hmmm....

Answer 9

What about just abolish cigarette just like coke?

Answer 10

I doubt she will ever see a penny of that