The Bellierub....
.......... on obesity related lawsuits
Most of you are probably aware of the endless litigation that occurs in the U.S.A.
Many of you have probably been participants in some sort of civil action where you
were either suing someone or being sued. What side of the fence do you think is
more advantageous? You guessed it. It is much better to sue than to be sued.
The reason appears obvious.

When someone sues, they may not have to fork over one red cent. Their lawyers
collect a large portion of the potential settlement as their fee. The person being
sued is the one in extreme pain from the beginning. They have to hire an attorney
and prepare a defense even though they have not been accused or charged with
a crime. There are no free public defenders in civil cases unless a lawyer figures
the case can generate publicity and takes it pro bono (for free).

If you're an average good guy like Bob Beerbellie, you probably won't be sued
because you don't have a fortune to lose. If someone sues you for whatever
reason, there would probably  be a connection to your insurance company where
they will fight the battle for you or settle out of court if they so choose. Chances are
you wouldn't be totally wiped out in the process.

But, what if you are a big, fast food chain selling millions of dollars worth of tasty,
high calorie food to the unsuspecting public?  You are a target now. You see, it is
the restaurants fault that people get fat and have health problems as a result.
That's how some lawyers see it. Now that they extorted 246 billion dollars from
the tobacco industry, it's off to the next health issue. Obesity.

Just as in the tobacco case, the poor people who became ill after inhaling smoke
for 30 or 40 years after reading the warning labels on every pack sold, were
entitled to compensation. The knock on the tobacco companies was their
deception about the dangers of tobacco and the additives they put in the product
to encourage addiction. What a surprise!  Companies attempting to keep their
customers. The last time the Bellierub checked, tobacco was a legal product.
Its potential dangers are well known. Everyone who smokes is aware of the risks
they take. Have another beer.

The same goes for all those fast food customers. The fast food chains make a
tasty product so their customers will come back. Just as with tobacco, companies
make money off of repeat business. That's how they survive.  They also employ
people and provide benefits and educational opportunities. They also provide
future job growth and advancement. They are able to do this because someone
walks into their establishment and  places an order by their own free will. They
then proceed to shove the food in their mouth without anyone's assistance. How
does this fully voluntary action warrant a lawsuit? It doesn't
.
If any lawsuit against a company selling high calorie food is to win, we will all
lose in the long run. The cost of high calorie food would go up and wages for
employees would go down to pay for the insurance and litigation costs. If people
are obese because of the fast food that they eat ......then maybe they shouldn't  go
out and eat fast food.

Complex problems sure have simple solutions, don't they?
That's the Bellierub on.....obesity related lawsuits.
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