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widow of smoker gets $23 billion

def chrisdef chris
edited July 2014 in Chit chat
http://news.sky.com/story/1304173/widow-of-chain-smoker-gets-23-6bn-payout

so many things about this don't make sense.

how did they arrive at that amount? anything over a few million should be off limits for a case like this. that 23 billion could now sit in a bank somewhere indefinitely when it could be used for good causes. surely a few million (tops) would be enough for one person?

also, does this not set a precedent where anyone else in a similar situation will now expect to get $23 billion as well? there must be thousands of people who lost their partners to smoking diseases...

and also, smoking is a known killer. it's not like eating bread every day killed him or something. how is the company that much at fault?

mad...
Post edited by def chris on

Comments

  • fogfog
    edited July 2014
    it is punitive damages though

    have you seen the follow up video about the woman who got money for the coffee cup at a certain fast food place? in reality what she got vs what people "assumed" are 2 very different totals.

    if you haven't seen it.


    lawyers take their cut etc. and I think it may have been set like that IF there was a cap on any damages award.. I was reading a bit about it.

    p.s. thanks I had to watch a cruddy cheryl talentless video advert for that.. bah!!
  • def chrisdef chris
    edited July 2014
    okay mcdonalds coffee woman was awarded 3 mil but only got 500K...so about 1/6th of the stated amount.... if smoking widow gets $4 billion that's still ridiculously too much imo
    fog wrote: »

    p.s. thanks I had to watch a cruddy cheryl talentless video advert for that.. bah!!

    a harrowing experience! here, have $753 trillion compensation :)
  • milemile
    edited July 2014
    So shes single, right. ;-)
  • LCDLCD
    edited July 2014
    def chris wrote: »
    surely a few million (tops) would be enough for one person?
    In fact, $23 Mrd (or as you would say: Billions) is not what she will get. That was the penalty the company has to pay to bancrupt USA. She will recive few millions and her lawyer too.
  • def chrisdef chris
    edited July 2014
    fair enough if that's actually the case, but why is the story worded in such a way that it makes it look like she's entitled to all the money?
    The widow of a chain smoker who died of lung cancer has been awarded $23.6bn (?14bn) in compensation from the company who made his cigarettes.
  • def chrisdef chris
    edited July 2014
    mile wrote: »
    So shes single, right. ;-)

    dr_evil.jpg
  • Matt_BMatt_B
    edited July 2014
    This is what you get with a system were a jury gets to decide on the amounts awarded in damages.

    It'll almost certainly be reduced to something more sensible on appeal.
  • fogfog
    edited July 2014
    mile wrote: »
    So shes single, right. ;-)

    pre-nups are valid over there though .. and I can't see her coming over here looking for ya (as a high amount of US folk don't even have a passport) . regardless of how good ya sunday roast is :)

    Chris, I was reading up on it
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tort_reform

    as I'm cluless with law stuff.
  • joefishjoefish
    edited July 2014
    mile wrote: »
    So shes single, right. ;-)
    To quote a cheerful single chap I used to know, whilst kayaking past a conspicuously large waterfront property:

    "Nice house; got any daughters?"
    Joefish
    - IONIAN-GAMES.com -
  • zx1zx1
    edited July 2014
    The company will appeal, so it may get reduced but come on, $23 billion is just a totally crazy sum of money.
    Maybe i should start smoking, develop cancer then sue Lambert & Butler!:grin:
    The trouble with tribbles is.......
  • rich_chandlerrich_chandler
    edited July 2014
    zx1 wrote: »
    The company will appeal, so it may get reduced but come on, $23 billion is just a totally crazy sum of money.
    Maybe i should start smoking, develop cancer then sue Lambert & Butler!:grin:
    You have to die slowly and painfully to get any money...
    I wanna tell you a story 'bout a woman I know...
  • zx1zx1
    edited July 2014
    I could recover though, then i could enjoy the cash!
    The trouble with tribbles is.......
  • Matt_BMatt_B
    edited July 2014
    zx1 wrote: »
    I could recover though, then i could enjoy the cash!

    Yes, although you'd have to push for an early settlement. Anyone who wants anything vaguely approaching the full award from one of these cases had better be prepared to wait a couple of decades.
  • def chrisdef chris
    edited July 2014
    zx1 wrote: »
    I could recover though, then i could enjoy the cash!

    what cash - you'd probably only be awarded a couple of billion! :)
  • zx1zx1
    edited July 2014
    Pah! Not worth the hassle!:smile:
    The trouble with tribbles is.......
  • milemile
    edited July 2014
    zx1 wrote: »
    The company will appeal, so it may get reduced but come on, $23 billion is just a totally crazy sum of money.
    Maybe i should start smoking, develop cancer then sue Lambert & Butler!:grin:

    You're single, right.

    :wink: :wink: :wink:
  • zx1zx1
    edited July 2014
    eh???
    The trouble with tribbles is.......
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