Ilorio' clipping ZUREAU Adn An7 oun ROI 451 CLCAATAIDA {Loaioa 14670 4193 AUGUSTINe AecorD DAILY 220.000 FE8 2 1 2 EDITORIAL Tobacco suit goes too far Lawton Chiles' contention that Flori- We agree with Gov; taxpayers should not be expected to pick 4p the multi; million doliar tab for tobacco-related expenses for Medicaid and Medicare patients that would not happen: perfect world And the new law under perfect world: But  this is not which the State of Florida is bringing suit against the big to bacco companies IS less S0. The Medical Third-Party Liabilily Act was speedily passed in the final days of the '94 legislative session: Itis irresponsibly vague in its language, making it trou: blingly broad in ils potentia scope: legal floodgate of third: Opponents fear the bill will open with the big winner3 being the attomeys party liligation who II end up with 30 percent of whatever the pot, whatever thc outcome If we agree in principle that tobacco growers are responsi- ble for the sickness and death of smokers (grown-up folks like millions of current smokerz, weigh the known risk wlo_ illness against the gratiiication of the addiction) , where and litigation) end? does that line of logic Cuuld we suc suntan lotion companies for cases of skin can: cer Ihen sunbathers ignored the warnings of proper SPF and exposure time? dealers and homosexuals for the AIDS cases dNu8 Let 's sue that are burdening the Medicaid system. piggy-back lawsuits: Let"'s sue makers of Perhaps we could pork rinds and Cheese Doodles along with Haagen Dazs ice cream for their contribution to obesity and heart disease: The state had better be careful , though; in case this goe3 end up suing itself , for taxing its citizens to tao far. It Will dealh ! 1
clipping ZUREAU Ilorio' Adn An7 oun ROI 451 CLCAATAIDA {Loaioa 14670 4193 AUGUSTINe AecorD DAILY 220.000 FE8 2 1 2 EDITORIAL Tobacco suit goes too far We agree with Gov; Lawton Chiles' contention that Flori- taxpayers should not be expected to pick 4p the multi; million doliar tab for tobacco-related expenses for Medicaid and Medicare patients perfect world that would not happen: But  this is not perfect world: And the new law under which the State of Florida is bringing suit against the big to bacco companies IS less S0. The Medical Third-Party Liabilily Act was speedily passed in the final days of the '94 legislative session: Itis irresponsibly vague in its language, making it trou: blingly broad in ils potentia scope: Opponents fear the bill will open legal floodgate of third: party liligation with the big winner3 being the attomeys who II end up with 30 percent of whatever the pot, whatever thc outcome If we agree in principle that tobacco growers are responsi- ble for the sickness and death of smokers (grown-up folks wlo_ like millions of current smokerz, weigh the known risk illness against the gratiiication of the addiction) , where does that line of logic and litigation) end? Cuuld we suc suntan lotion companies for cases of skin can: cer Ihen sunbathers ignored the warnings of proper SPF and exposure time? Let 's sue dNu8 dealers and homosexuals for the AIDS cases that are burdening the Medicaid system. Perhaps we could piggy-back lawsuits: Let"'s sue makers of pork rinds and Cheese Doodles along with Haagen Dazs ice cream for their contribution to obesity and heart disease: The state had better be careful , though; in case this goe3 tao far. It Will end up suing itself , for taxing its citizens to dealh ! 1