Nothing more scary than a clueless jury

[Jack Slocombe]

I use to smoke but now I hate smoking and those folks who smoke. I pick on friends who smoke, telling them how horrible their deaths will be. But this is just plain crazy. This idiot chainsmoked for years and died horribly from lung cancer. What a surprise. The tobacco company is not liable. I use to have a Corvette that would easily do 150mph, well over the speed limit. Should we make GM pay for all speeding tickets done in Corvettes? No, the idiot who drove that fast must pay the fine.

If this is upheld, it could be the basis of the new "American Retirement Plan". One partner chainsmokes, dies and the surviving mate sues. Tax free big bucks. Ah, the American Way.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090218/ap_ ... smokers_11

[Pego]

Jack, what happened with your previous "jury" thread? Cut by mods?

[bambam]

My Mom smoked herself to death. She died in 1997, at 79 years. She smoked 3-packs a day until about 5 years before that when she went on oxygen so she had to quit. In one of my final visits with her in the hospital, I told her I wish there was something I could do and she said, "Bill, I have nobody to blame but myself. I liked smoking those cigarettes. I don't blame anybody. I knew they weren't good for me."

Was always proud of her for that. When I see these morons with these tobacco settlements I think of my Mom and the fact that she had more guts in her little finger than those idiots and their lawyers have in their entire body.

[Marlow]

she had more guts in her little finger than those idiots

True dat - I always tell my students: Do cocaine or heroin or whatever the heck you want. But if you do, please embrace the consequences when they come . . . and they will.

[eldrick]

the medical profession may get a cure for lung cancer/COPD/heart disease in next few decades

might get there within coupla decades if big tobacco invested a few $billion/year into research

it'd stop any payouts they'd have to make then...

[eldrick]

anyhows, i have little sympathy for smokers now who say they can't quit

i've smoked equivalent of 20 - 80 marlboro/day ( depending on alcohol intake ) for 25y but i was determined to try & quit & after 3 months of Chantix :

http://tinyurl.com/ydq7re

& Nicorette inhalator :

http://www.nicorette.co.uk/stop-smoking ... lator.aspx

i haven't smoked for a month ( but still drag on 1 cartridge/day )

if i can quit, anyone coud - the drugs available nowdays are good enough for any case

big tobacco needs to put Chantix/Nicorrete ads on their packs - legally, this might give them some leverage in these cases :

"smokers are advised to ask their doctor for these if they believe they are addicted to smoking"

[Pego]

anyhows, i have little sympathy for smokers now who say they can't quit

i've smoked equivalent of 20 - 80 marlboro/day ( depending on alcohol intake ) for 25y but i was determined to try & quit & after 3 months of Chantix :

http://tinyurl.com/ydq7re

& Nicorette inhalator :

http://www.nicorette.co.uk/stop-smoking ... lator.aspx

i haven't smoked for a month ( but still drag on 1 cartridge/day )

if i can quit, anyone coud - the drugs available nowdays are good enough for any case

big tobacco needs to put Chantix/Nicorrete ads on their packs - legally, this might give them some leverage in these cases :

"smokers are advised to ask their doctor for these if they believe they are addicted to smoking"

I smoked for 30 years, quit cold turkey 23 years ago, missed it for about 18 years. I no longer crave it, but walking into a bar, it still smells good .

[rumbleyoungmanrumble]

anyhows, i have little sympathy for smokers now who say they can't quit

i've smoked equivalent of 20 - 80 marlboro/day ( depending on alcohol intake ) for 25y but i was determined to try & quit & after 3 months of Chantix :

http://tinyurl.com/ydq7re

& Nicorette inhalator :

http://www.nicorette.co.uk/stop-smoking ... lator.aspx

i haven't smoked for a month ( but still drag on 1 cartridge/day )

if i can quit, anyone coud - the drugs available nowdays are good enough for any case

big tobacco needs to put Chantix/Nicorrete ads on their packs - legally, this might give them some leverage in these cases :

"smokers are advised to ask their doctor for these if they believe they are addicted to smoking"

How did the Chantix work for you? I used it for a month, and have never felt so much nausea in my life, it was like permanent sea-sickness, especially the 2nd week (1 gram daily, I think it was).
I changed to the Nicorette patches in the end, did the trick!

[Wang Lung]

aaah yes. Pondering Jack's hatred of me as fragrant blue smoke from a 1998 Opus X Petit Lancero swirl above me. Somehow, I don't really care.

[Jack Slocombe]

aaah yes. Pondering Jack's hatred of me as fragrant blue smoke from a 1998 Opus X Petit Lancero swirl above me. Somehow, I don't really care.

As long as your smoke and smell do not get to me or my party, I could care less.

BTW....what the hell is a 1998 Opus X Petit Lancero It appears "petit lancero" translates to little pecker.

[gh]

Here's something far scarier than a clueless jury: corrupt judges:


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.c ... 002&sc=215

[tandfman]

Here's something far scarier than a clueless jury: corrupt judges:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.c ... 002&sc=215

That is indeed scary, and depressing. Screwing up kids' lives for profit! I'm at a loss for words.

[gh]

How about a fix on a lawsuit as well?

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.c ... 01&sc=1000

[skiboo]

i was determined to try & quit & after 3 months of Chantix :

That has a Buddhist ring to it.

[lonewolf]

I have had some experience, winning and losing as both plantiff and defendant in urban and rural counties.
The dollar amounts involved were not in this league and I am not alleging any malfeasance on the part of judge or attorney but but I have found the best money you can spend is to hire a local law school classmate of the judge, who is not knowlingly on the outs with the judge, to sit at your table. He doesn't have to know anything about the case or speak a word, just be there.