If there ever were a reason to abolish the jury system (as if the OJ verdict weren't enough), the $28 billion award to terminal cancer patient Betty Bullock should take the cake. Bullock, you see, didn't know that smoking could cause cancer. She contended this despite the non-stop government campaign against smoking since 1964, and the fact that her second husband, a two-pack a day smoker, died of emphysema a few years ago.
Yes, I know that the award will be reduced or even eliminated on appeal, but this whole business is really getting old.
As far as "addiction" to nicotine, or any other substance, there is no such thing. For reasons of financial gain, and cultural deconstruction, the Information Mandarin Class has chosen to call certain behaviors addictions. It's really as simple as that. Maybe I should write a "Myth America" column on the subject.
Here's how to solve this problem, once and for all: What if Philip Morris had offered her millions of dollars to quit smoking? If she had accepted the money and quit, then she is not "addicted," right? If she did not accept the money and signs a release, then the company is forever off the hook!
Thus, all Philip Morris has to do is offer this program nationwide, and pay off the takers on a lump sum, or extended payment basis. For those that accept the money, they agree to reasonable surveillance, to verify that they have quit.
How much money do would it take to finance a program like this? A lot less than you might think. As the program is rolled out, Philip Morris would first offer lowball amounts to quit, like $10,000. The moment someone says they'll only quit for a higher amount, the cat is out of the bag. You're addicted at $10,000, but can quit at $100,000. Sure...