yes it is ridiculous. Common sense went out the window long time ago. Perhaps candy companies need to put warning labels on their products about possible tooth decay lest they be sued too.

In addition to remembering that the US government used to give out free cigarettes to our military personnel and the 50's advertising campaign that Kool cigs were recommended by doctors to soothe sore throats your Q reminded me of this: London Times Obituary of the late Mr. Common Sense Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: Knowing when to come in out of the rain; why the early bird gets the worm; Life isn't always fair; and maybe it was my fault. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge). His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition. Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an Elastoplast to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion. Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband; churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault. Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement. Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; along with his daughter and son, Responsibility and Reason. He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, I Want It Now, Someone Else Is To Blame, and I'm A Victim. Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.

I think yeah, justice is not what it once was, and people are just out to make easy money, no matter the means by hook or by crook, in this case, the smoker is clearly at fault to the reason he died, I can bet u, he knew about the dangers of smoking, but now can't answer the reason for death 'cause he's dead, yet the wife blames cigarettes for his death and is awarded 8 million (I'm presuming, I haven't read the article), this means that for every widow whose husband died of smoking, there's a good chance they give her 8 million, amazingly stupendously silly, anyway, that's that way the world is, I guess, though the law is dead, and wisdom lives eternally, we, at this point in time choose to follow the law and not rule by wisdom......peterpan

Could you please provide a reference link to what you are talking about? I strongly suspect this is another example of "Woman gets burned spilling coffee, McDonald's ordered to pay damages", where the FACTS of the case get in the way of the righteous indignation....:-P... http://www.caoc.com/CA/index.cfm?event=showPage&pg=facts http://www.snopes.com/legal/lawsuits.asp

haha. if someone said your dead spouse smoked cigarettes... were gonna give you 8 million. would you say..NO, NO I DONT DESERVE IT. or would you take the 8 million and shut the hell up??? i know what i would do.