MORE PROOF WE NEED TORT REFORM

BBC:

A US jury has ordered tobacco giant Philip Morris to pay $13.8m (£8.4m) to the daughter of a lifelong smoker who died of lung disease.

The jury in Los Angeles decided in favour of Jodie Bullock, whose mother Betty died of lung cancer in 2003 aged 64. She had smoked for 47 years.

Philip Morris said she could have given up smoking at any time as the harmful effects of cigarettes were known.

Philip Morris is a part of Virginia-based tobacco-products group Altria.

Betty Bullock had sued Philip Morris in April 2001 on the grounds of fraud and product liability.

In 2002, a jury recommended that Philip Morris should pay $28bn in punitive damages to Mrs Bullock, but a judge later reduced the award to $28m.

In 2008, the US Court of Appeal overturned the jury's decision and sent the case for a new trial, with Philip Morris arguing that the $28m was excessive.

EVEN THIS AMOUNT - $13.8 MILLION - IS INSANE.

TORTS LIKE THIS DRIVE UP THE PRICE OF EVERYTHING.

AND THAT HURTS THE LITTLE GUY THE MOST.

THE DEMOCRAT PARTY IS OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE TRIAL LAWYERS WHO REAP BILLIONS FROM CASES LIKE THIS - LAWYERS LIKE THAT LYING CHEATING CAD JOHN EDWARDS.

IT'S JUST ANOTHER REASON TO VOTE GOP IN 2010.