MA> I do tend to agree with you, but each citizen has, or I
 MA> thought had, a right to adjucation before a jury if they
 MA> felt they were due just compensation for a wrong committed
 MA> against them. 
RC>[...snip...]
RC>That's true and I am not in favor of the proposed
RC>settlement either. I consider it the legalised looting of a
RC>politically unpopular industry, nothing more.
 
      I agree that is an aspect of this for sure.  Tobacco is a legal
product and as such should, despite it's populatiry, be afforded all of
the constitutional rights and protections of any other industry. Yet we
do have a pattern of behavior here, on the part of government, that is
consistant and long established.  Adult materials and entertainment,
alcohol, and gambling are also industries which have been singled out
by government for special treatment.  
RC>Interestingly, the ONLY benefit the tobacco companies were
RC>to receive in the proposed settlement was the relief from
RC>further litigation. Now that it appears the immunity from
RC>future prosecution will not be approved, the tobacco
RC>companies certainly have no economic reason to finalize the
RC>agreement.
 
       In the 40 some odd state national settlement you may be correct,
but Texas has already reached an independent settlement.  If this
proceeds, the rights of Texans to civil litigation will have been sold.
RC>Personally, I think every case should be litigated.
 
         Every case with merit, that shouldbe one of our fundamental
rights and one of the three or four essential functions of government
to see that that right is preserved, not sold to the highest bidder. 
 
                                            /\/\ike
--- RBBSMail/386 v0.997
---------------