A clear cut case for Tort Reform

LOS ANGELES — A federal jury in Los Angeles says cigarette maker Philip Morris USA should pay $13.8 million in punitive damages to the daughter of a longtime smoker who died of lung cancer.

The jury returned the verdict Monday, more than eight years after the smoker, Betty Bullock, sued the company for fraud and product liability. The panel voted 9-to-3 in favor of Bullock's daughter Jodie Bullock, who is now the plaintiff in the case.

A separate jury said Philip Morris should pay a record $28 billion in punitive damages to Betty Bullock in 2002, but a judge later reduced the award to $28 million.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,542341,00.html?test=latestnews

So, whether it was $28 billion or $28 million or $13.8 million, there is no way in hell the death of the mother deprived the daughter of that amount of monetary support, love and affection.

They sure as hell don't award very many relative anywhere near that amount of money when a parent or even both parents get killed in an vehicle accident, ....... even if the accident is not their fault.

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