Letter: Frivolous lawsuits cost taxpayers

Wednesday, Sept. 29, 1999 | 9:46 a.m.

This disclaimer has been labeled on cigarette packages, as required by law, for as long as I can remember. But lo and behold here comes President Clinton and Attorney General Janet Reno to once again "feel our pain" with this absurd, frivolous, and politically motivated lawsuit against the tobacco companies for smoking-related diseases suffered by people who chose to smoke of their own volition, despite the warning labels.

While they're at it maybe they can help that dummy in Oregon who some years ago let a friend attempt to shoot an apple off his head with a bow and arrow (like William Tell) only to get his eye poked out. Yes, that would make a great lawsuit. They could say, "The bow and arrow manufacturer should have had a warning label that read, "Warning: Letting someone shoot an apple from your head could be hazardous to your health."

Better yet, I have a friend who could sue UNLV -- where he received his accounting degree -- because he hasn't been able to hold down a job in this career field for the last 10 years.

But if we're going to get serious, then maybe we should get back to the basics in life and try to be a little responsible for our own actions rather than rely on frivolous lawsuits -- such as this -- that will only cost the taxpayers millions of dollars, turn more people in this nation into a bunch of lawsuit-happy morons, and eventually destroy a major tax revenue for our nation. Enough is enough.

MARK WILSON