Member of the Month

KilaTsunami
October, 2024

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

Woman awarded $23.6 billion in tabacco lawsuit...

profile picture
saskskier
Posts: 4774 - Karma: 10,005
Crazy stuff.


(Reuters) - A Florida jury has awarded the widow of a chain smoker who died of lung cancer 18 years ago record punitive damages of more than $23 billion in her lawsuit against the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, the nation's second-biggest cigarette maker.

The judgment, returned on Friday night, was the largest in Florida history in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by a single plaintiff, according to Ryan Julison, a spokesman for the woman's lawyer, Chris Chestnut.

Cynthia Robinson of the Florida Panhandle city of Pensacola sued the cigarette maker in 2008 over the death of her husband, Michael Johnson, claiming the company conspired to conceal the health dangers and addictive nature of its products.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/20/us-usa-tobacco-award-idUSKBN0FO0ZM20140720
Jul 20 2014 1:51AM
145 20
profile picture
SlurmsMckenzie
Posts: 128 - Karma: -31
saskskierCrazy stuff.


(Reuters) - A Florida jury has awarded the widow of a chain smoker who died of lung cancer 18 years ago record punitive damages of more than $23 billion in her lawsuit against the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, the nation's second-biggest cigarette maker.

The judgment, returned on Friday night, was the largest in Florida history in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by a single plaintiff, according to Ryan Julison, a spokesman for the woman's lawyer, Chris Chestnut.

Cynthia Robinson of the Florida Panhandle city of Pensacola sued the cigarette maker in 2008 over the death of her husband, Michael Johnson, claiming the company conspired to conceal the health dangers and addictive nature of its products.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/20/us-usa-tobacco-award-idUSKBN0FO0ZM20140720


thats a lot of dimp
Jul 20 2014 1:55AM
1 0
profile picture
J.D.
Posts: 21362 - Karma: 5,142
This is why the United States is a fucking banana republic. Ridiculous.
Jul 20 2014 2:00AM
21 2
profile picture
SlurmsMckenzie
Posts: 128 - Karma: -31
J.D.This is why the United States is a fucking banana republic. Ridiculous.


inb4 the widow is a cigarette smoker
Jul 20 2014 2:02AM
9 2
profile picture
theabortionator
Posts: 51516 - Karma: 160,934
Jesus. Fuck people like that. I haven't smoked in 3 years never going to again but jesus, fuck any judge that lets shit like this slide. If you have a problem with tobacco companies this is not the way to go about it. Also I think the big tobacco companies are cunts but fuck people who sue.


Now we can't have trampolines, monkey bars, skateparks, or do anything fun because everyone is scared that some shitty bitch of a human being will get hurt and sue.


You can get 80k for rolling your ankle in a small pothole. Jesus fucking Christ people. Go fuck yourselves.


I'm done
Jul 20 2014 2:02AM
15 0
profile picture
erikK
Posts: 3245 - Karma: 2,328
MERICA!!!!!!!!! FREEDOM PREVAILS
Jul 20 2014 2:16AM
1 0
profile picture
LIL-WAT
Posts: 1510 - Karma: 146
Jul 20 2014 2:38AM
6 0
profile picture
Ghini
Posts: 2259 - Karma: 2,943
Your country is so f*cked up..
Jul 20 2014 6:41AM
11 1
profile picture
.squirrely.
Posts: 7563 - Karma: 7,545
where does the $23.6 BILLION come from? did the judge determine his life was worth that? thats so much fucking money that is crazy
Jul 20 2014 7:30AM
5 0
profile picture
maximiliaan
Posts: 7711 - Karma: 2,857
Id act like a little bitch if i could get 23,6 billion.... But i always ask myself, why these big amounts of money? Whos makes up the amount?
Jul 20 2014 7:32AM
3 0
profile picture
KravtZ
Posts: 6637 - Karma: 2,629
Wow unbelievable. That being said, we have no idea of the facts presented in the case. A lot of the time many people in the media simply are making an opinion on what happens..and weren't there so we actually don't know why this lady got this much.

That being said...23.6 B is a retarded amount of money. No one deserves that much money from a lawsuit. That puts her in the top 50 richest people in the world.
Jul 20 2014 9:10AM
4 0
profile picture
Charlie_Kelly
Posts: 11954 - Karma: 12,297
Thats like suing McDonalds for making you fat...everyone knows cigarettes are bad for you...
Jul 20 2014 9:12AM
7 1
profile picture
TijmenDal
Posts: 4849 - Karma: 1,295
Such fucking bullshit.

The US has such a majorly fucked up judicial system.
Jul 20 2014 9:27AM
2 0
profile picture
smooter
Posts: 1121 - Karma: 1,368
she will more than likely not know what to do with money like that and just get fucked over in the end
Jul 20 2014 10:43AM
1 0
profile picture
El_Barto.
Posts: 11630 - Karma: 24,474
I read that as "Taco Bell Lawsuit" and was all damn
Jul 20 2014 10:45AM
7 0
profile picture
Titus69
Posts: 9329 - Karma: 17,816
Jul 20 2014 11:01AM
1 0
profile picture
Scotty_Boy
Posts: 777 - Karma: 1,449
Granite_StateThats like suing McDonalds for making you fat...everyone knows cigarettes are bad for you...


That actually happened.
Jul 20 2014 12:53PM
3 0
profile picture
Granby_killdozer
Posts: 2351 - Karma: -11,750
I don't think a local judge has the power to give a single person 23 billion dollars...
Jul 20 2014 1:18PM
0 0
profile picture
NinetyFour
Posts: 8650 - Karma: 13,409
Craw_DaddyI don't think a local judge has the power to give a single person 23 billion dollars...


Well a local judge didn't, It was a jury.
Jul 20 2014 1:54PM
1 1
profile picture
MLJ
Posts: 1849 - Karma: 3,649
I have a great idea: I will become a judge, one of you guys sue apple for severely denting your wallet, press charges, I will award $100bn in damages, we split it 50/50 and live in bolivia for the rest of our lives to avoid getting raped by the FBI.

Who's in?
Jul 20 2014 3:09PM
4 0
profile picture
90053
Posts: 2565 - Karma: 3,728
Granite_StateThats like suing McDonalds for making you fat...everyone knows cigarettes are bad for you...


well that was not always the case

however even if the company had evidence about cigarettes harming peoples health which it withheld, which is definitely immoral if not illegal, this sets a pretty ridiculous precedent

ie those in a similar position who smoked cigarettes before the harm they caused was realised are entitled to similar rights to compensation
Jul 20 2014 3:43PM
2 1
profile picture
Turkelton
Posts: 2829 - Karma: 8,558
23 billion? Where does that money come from?
Jul 20 2014 3:43PM
3 1
profile picture
saskskier
Posts: 4774 - Karma: 10,005
Turkelton23 billion? Where does that money come from?


You don't think one of the largest tobacco companies out there doesn't have that kind of money?
Jul 20 2014 3:47PM
0 0
profile picture
Granby_killdozer
Posts: 2351 - Karma: -11,750
NinetyFourWell a local judge didn't, It was a jury.


No... the jury doesn't carry out the sentence, that's the judge's job... and my claim is that this small town judge doesn't have the authority to tell a giant corporation that they need to give up 23 billion dollars. This whole situation is ludicrous, that woman wont see a penny. Do you realize that these companies spend millions in government lobbying efforts every year. Do you really think some random bitch from bumfuck nowhere is to be able to pull a fast one on them?
Jul 20 2014 4:35PM
1 1
profile picture
J.D.
Posts: 21362 - Karma: 5,142
Craw_DaddyNo... the jury doesn't carry out the sentence, that's the judge's job... and my claim is that this small town judge doesn't have the authority to tell a giant corporation that they need to give up 23 billion dollars. This whole situation is ludicrous, that woman wont see a penny. Do you realize that these companies spend millions in government lobbying efforts every year. Do you really think some random bitch from bumfuck nowhere is to be able to pull a fast one on them?


Christ. I wish people would not talk out their asses.

This is a jury trial in a civil matter. There is no "sentence". Criminals are "sentenced", civil courts provide a remedy. In this case, the remedy was in the form of a jury award of damages. The judge did not award the 23 billion, the judge provided the jury with instructions as to what it was allowed to do and the jury decided to lose its collective mind and do something idiotic.
Jul 20 2014 4:53PM
2 1
profile picture
Sno.
Posts: 12155 - Karma: 6,152
the problem with this-- is that punitive damages are awarded as a deterrent-- as a punishment and to make it too costly to continue the same behavior in the future--how is this a deterrent, though? What is the company going to do differently? Change their marketing?
Jul 20 2014 5:03PM
0 0
profile picture
Sno.
Posts: 12155 - Karma: 6,152
.squirrely.where does the $23.6 BILLION come from? did the judge determine his life was worth that? thats so much fucking money that is crazy


no, that was the punitive amount-- the amount that they felt was enough to "teach the company a lesson,"-- it didn't really matter who the person was-- and if someone with a similar case comes forward after this, they wouldn't get the same thing, it was the smaller amount (16.9 million) that she was awarded that was specific to her case/the person who died.
Jul 20 2014 5:15PM
3 0
profile picture
El_Barto.
Posts: 11630 - Karma: 24,474
The referenced post has been removed.


Right. First thing i thought was "damn, that must have been some stank quesarito"
Jul 20 2014 5:28PM
1 0
profile picture
Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
El_Barto.I read that as "Taco Bell Lawsuit" and was all damn


YEP
Jul 20 2014 5:31PM
2 0
profile picture
Gods_Father
Posts: 1466 - Karma: -284
to those who don't know "where all this $ comes from" read about 1998 big tobacco settlement to give yourself more of an understanding
Jul 20 2014 6:26PM
1 0
profile picture
smuggs
Posts: 6561 - Karma: 1,375
so does this mean anyone can sue tobacco companies when a relative dies ? surely there will be a retrial
Jul 20 2014 7:06PM
0 0
profile picture
Bombogenesis
Posts: 1984 - Karma: 4,006
Jesus... What precedent does that set??????
Jul 20 2014 7:13PM
0 0
profile picture
Dolan.Escobar
Posts: 683 - Karma: 943
20 billion? Im sure you mean million...
Jul 20 2014 7:16PM
0 0
profile picture
J.D.
Posts: 21362 - Karma: 5,142
If it was only 20 million it wouldn't have even been worth the news article.
Jul 20 2014 7:17PM
4 0
profile picture
Dolan.Escobar
Posts: 683 - Karma: 943
theabortionatorJesus. Fuck people like that. I haven't smoked in 3 years never going to again but jesus, fuck any judge that lets shit like this slide. If you have a problem with tobacco companies this is not the way to go about it. Also I think the big tobacco companies are cunts but fuck people who sue.


Now we can't have trampolines, monkey bars, skateparks, or do anything fun because everyone is scared that some shitty bitch of a human being will get hurt and sue.


You can get 80k for rolling your ankle in a small pothole. Jesus fucking Christ people. Go fuck yourselves.


I'm done


Did anybody murder that bitch who sued rcr yet?
Jul 20 2014 11:22PM
0 0
profile picture
soulskier
Posts: 17806 - Karma: 3,841
BombogenesisJesus... What precedent does that set??????


Idk but imma gonna sue NS for allowing this upsetting article to be posted
Jul 20 2014 11:26PM
0 0
profile picture
Phil-X-
Posts: 7205 - Karma: 14,399
23 BILLION??!? What the fuck?!??!??

I... I dont even know what to say....


Literally fucking confused right now.... I dont think that sort of payout would even be justifiable had they killed 13 people due to toxic run off or some shit...


BP fucking spent that sort of money after their oil spill..... Im furious that somehow this random motherfucker was worth 23bil... you know how hard some people work to even make themselves worth 1 million????

This motherfucker made some dumb ass choices that killed him and now this? Fuck that guy and his family.... There are so many more wrongful deaths that deserve compensation
Jul 20 2014 11:32PM
0 0
profile picture
Dolan.Escobar
Posts: 683 - Karma: 943
J.D.If it was only 20 million it wouldn't have even been worth the news article.


Theres no way it was billion
Jul 20 2014 11:33PM
0 0
profile picture
Sno.
Posts: 12155 - Karma: 6,152
Dolan.EscobarTheres no way it was billion


yes, it was billion
Jul 20 2014 11:35PM
0 0
profile picture
Granby_killdozer
Posts: 2351 - Karma: -11,750
J.D.Christ. I wish people would not talk out their asses.


Yeah man I was totally talking out of my ass, the judge DEFINITELY doesn't have the ability to change or overrule the verdict after it's read...

[URL]http://www.americanbar.org/groups/public_education/resources/law_related_education_network/how_courts_work/judgment.html[/URL]
Jul 21 2014 12:59AM
0 1
profile picture
Sit
Posts: 177 - Karma: 293
The decision may have gone the right way, those companies were pretty horrific the way they covered up evidence against smoking... but $23 Billion??
The article says that was the largest payout in Florida history, which infers there have been bigger payouts elsewhere too! It will certainly get cut down on appeal but holy shit the US system is fucking insane.
Jul 21 2014 1:26AM
1 0
profile picture
Static
Posts: 8546 - Karma: 4,097
god dammit, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRHVMBw3U-0&feature=youtu.be&t=4m26s
Jul 21 2014 3:05AM
0 0
profile picture
Dolan.Escobar
Posts: 683 - Karma: 943
snobunnyyes, it was billion


Thats ridiculous, how the fuck does the judge get off with that?
20 billion? For one person?
Fuck this country
Jul 21 2014 4:40AM
0 0
profile picture
90053
Posts: 2565 - Karma: 3,728
Dolan.EscobarThats ridiculous, how the fuck does the judge get off with that?
20 billion? For one person?
Fuck this country


did you even read the thread?
Jul 21 2014 4:41AM
0 0
profile picture
J.D.
Posts: 21362 - Karma: 5,142
Craw_DaddyYeah man I was totally talking out of my ass, the judge DEFINITELY doesn't have the ability to change or overrule the verdict after it's read...

[URL]http://www.americanbar.org/groups/public_education/resources/law_related_education_network/how_courts_work/judgment.html[/URL]



Hahaha this is completely NOT what you said. What you said was, the jury did not make the award, because it was the "judge's job" to "carry out" the "sentence". That is all completely wrong and made no sense, and you can't now revise history and move the goal posts.
Jul 21 2014 8:12AM
1 1
profile picture
deleted5
Posts: 14507 - Karma: 13,507
I'm very surprised people are jumping to the defense of a tobacco company.
Jul 21 2014 9:20AM
0 1
profile picture
RubberSoul
Posts: 11249 - Karma: 14,642
J.D.This is why the United States is a fucking banana republic. Ridiculous.


that's not at all what a banana republic means. a banana republic is how people glibly refer to a country that is only functional cause of one big thing (e.g. bananas) or from foreign money

anyway, this case is fucking nuts. i don't think i like the precedent it sets, and i dislike the lack of personal responsibility (yes, cigs are addictive but he could have stopped, and he smoked l-3 packs a day), but on the other hand, i do love to see big tobacco spanked like this cause $$ is the only language they speak, and it is true that they are morally bankrupt in their actions the past 50+ years

no idea where the number came from tho, damn
Jul 21 2014 10:36AM
2 0
profile picture
CheddarJack
Posts: 5203 - Karma: 7,380
"After a four-week trial and 11 hours of deliberations, the jury returned a verdict granting compensatory damages of $7.3 million to the widow and the couple's child, and $9.6 million to Johnson's son from a previous relationship.
The same jury deliberated for another seven hours before awarding Robinson the additional sum of $23.6 billion in punitive damages, according to the verdict forms."

Was the jury on crack or what? They granted $16 million at first... That's a lot of damn money. Then oh wait, that's not gunna cover the full damages, so they'll grant another few million, cuz, you know, any person in their right mind would be running in circles in happiness with that kind of money. Actually, never mind, they should totally give her a little more just to make sure. Nah, fuck it, grant 23 billion dollars. That'll make her happy, right? The jury's been deliberating for 18 hours now over 4 weeks, they deserve to just end it. They must be getting pretty tired. Or maybe they're running out of crack.

confusedjackiechan.jpg
Jul 21 2014 12:02PM
0 0
profile picture
yelsel
Posts: 12967 - Karma: 3,451
That amount will definitely be rejected on appeal or just reduced considerably. There's no way in hell the Supreme Court will allow that amount to be awarded for punitive damages.
Jul 21 2014 12:10PM
2 0
profile picture
J.D.
Posts: 21362 - Karma: 5,142
RubberSoulthat's not at all what a banana republic means. a banana republic is how people glibly refer to a country that is only functional cause of one big thing (e.g. bananas) or from foreign money

Truth, although in common usage it's obtained a broader meaning to refer to a country so politically unstable that results cannot be predicted on the basis of the rule of law - and the usual incidents of those kinds of states, like heavy-handed suppression of dissenting opinion. At least I hear it used like this all the time.

But I applaud your crusade to ensure that words are not bastardized through usage, and so defer the point.
Jul 21 2014 12:21PM
0 0
profile picture
RubberSoul
Posts: 11249 - Karma: 14,642
J.D.Truth, although in common usage it's obtained a broader meaning to refer to a country so politically unstable that results cannot be predicted on the basis of the rule of law - and the usual incidents of those kinds of states, like heavy-handed suppression of dissenting opinion. At least I hear it used like this all the time.

But I applaud your crusade to ensure that words are not bastardized through usage, and so defer the point.


1) this answer was way too balanced and reasonable, i must be on the wrong internet

2) hm, i havent heard it used that way very much but you're right, i guess it's one of those words that can be argued either way, no that's a bastardization vs well it becomes the new connotation due to common usage. i lean toward the former, as you hinted you do too
Jul 21 2014 12:26PM
0 0
All times are Eastern (-5)