Gambling Addiction and the Big Win-Win

January 25th, 2010. By LucyC

Last week we posted a settlement of a lawsuit against Loto-Québec, for an undisclosed sum of money—but it will reportedly be in the multi-million dollar range—somewhere between $50 million and $700 million—quite a spread by anybody’s standards. But I’m betting it won’t turn out to be chicken feed. 

The lawsuit was brought against the provincial lottery agency by compulsive gamblers who allege that video lottery terminals—or VLTs—are associated with pathological gambling. The plaintiffs are seeking the cost of their addiction treatments, among other things, at an estimated average cost per person of $5000. And there are an estimated 119,000 plaintiffs. My calculator tells me that’s equal to $595,000,000—that’s a lot of dough—although the final sum will likely be less than that. 

But if you look a little deeper—you start to wonder who actually comes out ahead in all of this. Ironically, it could well be the lottery corporation. Loto-Québec CEO, Alain Cousineau, told the Montreal Gazette recently (1/20/10), that Canadians spent an estimated $675 million just on online gambling in 2008, and revenues are expected to exceed $1 billion in 2012. So, what’s the problem with spending a little on addiction therapy for those people who just can’t help themselves? And let’s be clear here—gambling is an addiction—and as such, you could argue, a guaranteed source of income for the corporations that operate the lotteries. (Wouldn’t that qualify as unfair business practices? Tobacco companies can’t get away with that kind of thing, apparently.) 

But the plaintiffs have also won, even if they don’t succeed at addiction treatment—because they’ve set a precedent. Similar cases are pending in Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Ontario, so what happens in the Lotto-Quebec case matters—big time. 

The losers, if there are any, are those of us who buy our weekly lottery tickets in the hope of winning our retirement and never win a nickel—but we keep on trying. Does that count as addiction? Or is it the definition of madness—repeating the same action over and over again, each time hoping for a different outcome… 

At the end of the day, if you asked me where I’d put my money going forward, it would be on the lottery corporations—because they will come out ahead—just like Vegas—you can’t beat the house. But maybe, just maybe, this lawsuit has helped redefine some of the rules.

Asbestos News Roundup: 1.21.10

January 21st, 2010. By LucyC

A roundup of recent asbestos-related news and information that you should be aware of.

Asbestos Lawsuits

Henderson County, TX: The widow of Michael B. Brashers, who was diagnosed with and subsequently died of asbestos mesothelioma in April 2008, is suing eight corporations alleging that her husband’s death was wrongfully caused. Specifically, Katherine Brashers alleges that her husband developed mesothelioma as a result of exposure at his work at Union Oil Company of California between 1963 and 1998. 

The companies named in the suit include: Able Supply, Ametek, Champlain Cable Corp., Guardline, Hercules Inc., Jett Weld Inc., Union Oil Company of California and Westinghouse Electric Co. Among the charges, the companies stand accused of failing to adequately warn Michael Brashers of the serious health hazards related to asbestos exposure and failing to provide what would be considered adequate and safe working apparel. (SE Texas Record)

Jefferson County, TX: Chevron has been named as defendant in an asbestos lawsuit filed by four Texas residents who allege that the lung cancer and pulmonary asbestosis their father developed subsequently caused his death on March 21, 2008, and that his death was wrongfully caused.

Vergie Foreman, Clara Foreman, Darrell Foreman and Darnell Foreman claim that their husband and father, Jesse Foreman, worked as a pipefitter helper, insulator trainer and instrument mechanic, and that during the course of Read the rest of this entry »

Coakley Loses, but Wins Big for MA Motorcycle Owners

January 21st, 2010. By AbiK

Git your motor runnin’…The Democratic loss in Massachusetts was (is still) all over the news—but one bit of news about MA Attorney General Martha Coakley was not so prevalent: her settlement to the tune of $11.1 million with motorcycle insurers who overcharged riders.

It seems that a few motorcycle insurers—Safety Insurance Company, Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, and Quincy Mutual Fire Insurance Company—were allegedly basing their premiums for motorcycle insurance on incorrect motorcycle values.

Now, if you’ve ever had your heart set on a Harley, and had to wait to save up the money for that Fat Boy or Low Rider (personally, I’d be going for a Sportster 883 or 1200), the last thing you want to do is cough up even more money on a high insurance premium. But you’re typically at the mercy of the insurance company—you need insurance to ride, and motorcycle accidents do happen.

Upon an investigation that, according to insurancenewsnet.com, began over a year ago, it came to light that the insurance companies were basing their collision and comprehensive premiums not on the current book values of the bikes being insured, but on values that were out-of-date and inflated.

An example given was for a 1999 Harley Davidson Road King Classic (which nowadays will set you back about Read the rest of this entry »

Pharmaceutical Companies Want YOU to Want Them

January 21st, 2010. By Kristine B

Last week, we saw how pharmaceutical companies target medical professionals in their marketing. This week, Pleading Ignorance looks at how they target you, the patient. 

When you are targeted in an advertisement or marketing plan for pharmaceuticals, that’s called direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA). Now, it may seem a bit silly for pharmaceutical companies to target patients—after all, the patient has to rely on the doctor to first diagnose a health problem and then prescribe the medication. 

But, if you notice, the tv ads encourage you to “talk to your doctor about [insert name of drug here].” They expect that you will see the ad, identify with the list of symptoms or the general health issue mentioned, and go straight to the doctor, demanding you get a prescription for that particular drug. 

So, if consumers are being given the drugs they want and need, is there really a problem with DTCA? 

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL,ncsl.org), there are concerns about DTCA advertising. 

One concern is that the costs of drugs are “soaring” (their word) and becoming more and more difficult for people Read the rest of this entry »

FDA Taking Baby Steps on BPA

January 21st, 2010. By Hunter West

Last week the US Food and Drug Administration did an about-face on its stance with regard to bisphenol-A (BPA), saying Friday that it has had “some concern about the potential effects of BPA on the brain, behavior and prostate gland of fetuses, infants and children,” and would join other federal health agencies in studying the chemical in both animals and humans. 

This, in contrast to its report of 2008, when the agency deemed the chemical safe. 

Not that the FDA is saying that BPA is unsafe. Far from it. “If we thought it was unsafe, we would be taking strong regulatory action,” said Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, the principal deputy commissioner of the drug agency, at a news briefing late last week. 

However, it is a hint—baby steps here—that the FDA is taking a harder line on issues than it appeared to take previous to the Obama Administration. Needless to say safety advocates are buoyed by the change of position, short of being overjoyed given their entrenched view that the FDA has not gone far enough. 

The chemical industry from whence the BPA originates, is also not happy with the news. 

Hardly surprising, as both camps line up and defend their respective positions—the chemical industry saying that the FDA’s concerns are unfounded, while the safety advocates say the FDA hasn’t gone far enough. Then there’s the FDA, trying to come up in the middle and be fair to everybody. 

But at least they’re looking. Rather than remain cocooned in a kind of Pleasantville (the movie, with apologies to any real ‘Pleasantvilles’ out there), outfitted with blinders and assuming that everybody, everywhere will be doing Read the rest of this entry »