Fat People Cheaper to Treat

[legion]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080205/ap_on_he_me/obesity_cost

Preventing obesity and smoking can save lives, but it doesn't save money, researchers reported Monday. It costs more to care for healthy people who live years longer, according to a Dutch study that counters the common perception that preventing obesity would save governments millions of dollars.

Sounds like Dickie Scruggs and some states owe the tobacco companies some money back...

[tonypeoni]

Ive long thought this would get to be a problem. How much is a human life worth to a insurance company? Im sure we'll see legislation on this in the coming years.

[Noah930]

Interesting concept: it's cheaper to have someone die now/earlier through an expensive to treat disease, than it is to have them live longer and treat them through apparently even more expensive long-term care. I take back the tongue-in-cheek comment I made on the obesity in Miss. thread.

[Dueller]

Originally Posted by legion

Sounds like Dickie Scruggs and some states owe the tobacco companies some money back...

Dickie's got other things on his mind:

Multimillionaire Mississippi lawyer Dickie Scruggs, portrayed in a 1999 Hollywood film about his legal fight against the tobacco industry, is facing federal charges of conspiring to bribe a judge handling $26.5 million in attorney fees related to Hurricane Katrina claims.



Not long after drawing applause for allowing University of Mississippi officials to use his private jet to fly Ole Miss Athletic Director Pete Boone to Arkansas to help recruit new football coach Houston Nutt, Scruggs turned himself in to authorities Wednesday afternoon.

Others indicted in the alleged scheme included Scruggs' son, Zach, former State Auditor Steve Patterson and attorneys Sidney Backstrom and Timothy Balducci.

Neither Dickie Scruggs nor Booneville lawyer Joey Langston, who represents Scruggs' firm, could be reached for comment.

Each defendant is charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States, converting property and wire fraud. If convicted on all counts, each of those indicted faces up to 75 years in prison and $1.5 million in fines.

Scruggs, the brother-in-law of U.S. Sen. Trent Lott, is best known for his handling of mass litigation on behalf of the state of Mississippi, first involving asbestos and later involving tobacco.

His success in winning Mississippi's landmark tobacco settlement led to his portrayal in the film The Insider, starring Russell Crowe and Al Pacino.

Then-Attorney General Mike Moore, who portrayed himself in the movie, hired Scruggs to handle the litigation on the state's behalf - a move later criticized by some because Scruggs and other lawyers received millions in legal fees.

More recently, Scruggs has handled litigation against State Farm Insurance Co. over its handling of Katrina claims.

According to the indictment, Lafayette County Circuit Judge Henry Lackey cooperated with the FBI in the investigation after reporting a bribery overture to authorities.

Dickie Scruggs and others tried to influence Lackey by giving him $40,000 in cash to resolve the attorney-fees dispute in favor of Scruggs' law firm, the indictment alleges.

On March 15, the law firm of Jones, Funderburg, Sessums, Peterson & Lee sued Dickie Scruggs and other lawyers, claiming they were owed $26.5 million in legal fees for their assistance in the Katrina litigation.

Shortly after that, Scruggs, his son, Backstrom, Balducci and Patterson met to discuss how to influence the litigation, the indictment claims.

Scruggs practiced in his law firm in Oxford with his son and Backstrom. Balducci practiced at the law firm he and Patterson formed in New Albany, although Patterson is not a lawyer.

On March 28, Balducci met with Lackey and made an overture on behalf of Scruggs to resolve the litigation in Scruggs' favor, the indictment claims.

On May 3, Balducci talked on the telephone to Lackey, saying "they had changed their strategy" and would rely on a motion to compel arbitration rather than a motion for summary judgment, the indictment claims.

The next day, Backstrom e-mailed a proposed order to Balducci, who in turn faxed the order to Lackey, the indictment claims.

Some of the conversations between Balducci and the judge apparently were taped.

On May 9, Balducci called Lackey and told him "my relationship with Dick is such that he and I can talk very private about these kinds of matters and I have the fullest confidence that if the court, you know, is inclined to rule ... in favor ... everything will be good," the indictment said. "The only person in the world outside of me and you that has discussed this is me and Dick."

According to the indictment, Balducci's conversations with Lackey continued for the next several months.

On Sept. 21, Balducci agreed to pay Lackey $40,000 in cash in return for a ruling favorable to Scruggs, the indictment claims.

Six days later, Patterson discussed the bribe with Balducci, the indictment claims.

That same day, Balducci delivered $20,000 in cash to Lackey, according to the indictment.

Later that day, Balducci was quoted as telling Patterson by phone, "All is done, all is handled and all is well."

On Oct. 18, Patterson called Balducci to find out what was going on with the order, saying he talked to Dickie Scruggs 15 times and Balducci needed to call Scruggs, the indictment claims.

That same day, Balducci delivered $10,000 in cash to Lackey and picked up a $40,000 check from Dickie Scruggs to conceal the bribe, the indictment claims.

On Nov. 1, Balducci delivered another $10,000 in cash to Lackey and obtained an amended order favorable to Scruggs' law firm, the indictment claims.

Later that day, according to the indictment, Balducci discussed the order with Zach Scruggs and Backstrom, saying, "We paid for this ruling; let's be sure it says what we want it to say."

Legal experts say the word-for-word conversations between Balducci and others besides the judge seem to suggest he began to cooperate at a certain point with the government.

At one point, Balducci is quoted as telling the judge: "How shall I say, for over the last five or six years there, there are bodies buried that, that you know, that he (Dickie Scruggs) and I know where ... (they) are."

If Balducci is referring to cases beyond Katrina, it could potentially have an effect on those cases, experts say.

"I assume those cases could be exhumed and used for a basis for further attacks," said Aaron Condon, professor emeritus at the University of Mississippi School of Law.

U.S. District Judge William Acker of Alabama recently found Dickie Scruggs in contempt for failing to turn over documents he received from two whistleblowers, sisters Kerri and Cori Rigsby.

Dickie Scruggs gave the documents to Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood rather than to the judge.

He maintained Acker's order provided documents taken from State Farm could be disclosed to law enforcement officials, including Hood's office.

The sisters, who were processing claims, have said they uncovered evidence State Farm was unfairly handling claims after Katrina.

[sammyg2]

This has been around and well known for many, many years. I did a term paper on it in college (got an A) and most of the references were directly from studies from the surgeon general's office.

If someone lives to be 85 they will eventually chalk up a lot of medical bills, and will collect much more in social security etc. If that same person died at 65, it would save the government and everyone else a great deal of money.

Smoking (and obesity) do not kill people. They will die if they smoke or not, are skinny or fat. all smoking does is make the inevitable happen sooner.

One of my pet peeves is when someone is credited with "saving a life".
Baloney. All they did was postpone a death.

[onewhippedpuppy]

So let's just let Darwin run his course.

[frogger]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

One of my pet peeves is when someone is credited with "saving a life".
Baloney. All they did was postpone a death.

Are personality transplants expensive?

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by frogger

Are personality transplants expensive?

Where in the hell would you find someone willing to swap you?

I have to call BS on this study, if it is looking solely at medical expenses. Obesity and smoking take a very long time to kill you, and cause all sorts of expensive problems that do not kill you.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by frogger

Are personality transplants expensive?

What are you trying to say?

[frogger]

You lack empathy for humanity, sammy.

Tobra, don't be a hater.

[MRM]

Scruggs has $26.5 million in fees on the line and he tries to bribe a judge with a measly $40 grand? What a piker.

I think the more accurate headline is: Fat people die faster, saving long term health care costs.

[frogger]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

What are you trying to say?

Nice edit sammy.

[lendaddy]

Originally Posted by MRM

Fat people die faster, saving long term health care costs.

That much closer to the sweet embrace of the reaper. Pass me that Burrito.

[frogger]

Mmmm, burritos.

[MRM]

Or maybe: Fat people cost society less because they die faster.

When the tobacco litigation came to Minnesota one of the biggest fights was over whether the tobacco companies had the right to claim an offset from the damages claimed by the state for the money saved on people who died early from smoking. I know the judge ruled that they didn't get an offset, but I never understood why.

[Paco Anton]

The financial advantages of smoking were proven a few years ago

http://edition.cnn.com/2001/BUSINESS/07/16/czech.morris/index.html

Morris study blasted

July 16, 2001 Posted: 1616 GMT

NEW YORK (CNNfn) -- Smokers' early deaths may be a boon to the Czech Republic's finances, a study commissioned last year by Philip Morris Cos. said.

U.S. consulting firm Arthur D. Little International Inc. studied the impact of smoking on Czech public finances at Philip Morris' request in November 2000. The study [Microsoft Word document] found the cost benefits of smokers' early mortality, together with cigarette-tax revenue, outweighed the economic drawbacks of health-care and other smoking-related costs.

Anti-smoking groups seized on the report as evidence that Philip Morris, the world's largest tobacco company, is callous about the health of its customers.

"This report is powerful evidence that the kinder, gentler Philip Morris depicted in the company's U.S. ads is just a wolf in sheep's clothing," said Matthew Myers, president of Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids.

But Philip Morris pointed out the report was nothing more than an economic impact study, focusing only on data from 1999, commissioned in response to criticisms that smoking-related health-care costs were hurting the Czech economy.

"We are not in any way suggesting that the social cost of smoking is of benefit to society," said Robert Kaplan, director of communications at Philip Morris International.

Arthur D. Little, which drafted the study, referred questions about details of it to Philip Morris, saying its study was the property of the tobacco company.

In the study itself, however, the firm agreed with Philip Morris' view, saying, "The results of this study should not be interpreted as defining... whether smoking is good or bad from the standpoint of the individual or the society."

An Arthur D. Little representative said Philip Morris had commissioned similar studies in Canada and the Netherlands, and those studies are mentioned in the report. Kaplan said that no other such studies are ongoing.

The study was commissioned by the tobacco firm's Czech unit in response to claims by the Czech health ministry that smoking's costs outweighed its fiscal benefits. It found the impact of smoking on Czech public finance to be a net gain of 5.815 billion Czech korunas (about $147 million). Most of that gain was derived from tax revenue.

But the government also saved between 943 million and 1.2 billion korunas (about $24 million-to-$30 million) in health-care, pension and public-housing costs due to the early deaths of smokers -- one of the 'positive' benefits of smoking, according to the study.

Anti-smoking activists expressed horror at this finding.

Pressure to change laws

"Even if it were true that smokers dying young would save money for the economy, it's a real scary logic on which to base policy," said Patti Lynn, associate campaign director for corporate watchdog group Infact, which has battled tobacco companies over their marketing practices.

Pressure is building on the Czechs to amend their laws to conform to European Union norms ahead of possible membership in 2004.

Last year the Czech government proposed, but then withdrew, a law that would have tightened existing tobacco advertising rules. The current law allows cigarette advertising on the radio at night, advertising in cinemas, newspapers and magazines, and the prominent display of company logos on billboards and street cars.

Tobacco companies have offered to ban radio and billboard advertising, stop sponsorship of events, and exclude all print advertising where more than one third of the readership is under 18.

Shares of Philip Morris (MO: up $0.78 to $44.68, Research, Estimates), which makes about 80 percent of the cigarettes smoked in the Czech Republic, closed lower Monday.

[M.D. Holloway]

What a very strange way to view the world. I guess by definition I am slightly obese being 5'10" and 215lbs. Its nice to know that I wont be much of a burden as my Brother who is excellent shape. I'm more valuable to society than those who take care of themselves.

This provides me a first class justifacation to have a bucket of hot wings chased down by a few beers and some cheesecake for dessert!

[Dueller]

Originally Posted by MRM

Scruggs has $26.5 million in fees on the line and he tries to bribe a judge with a measly $40 grand? What a piker.

Scruggs is fighting the charges. However, his lawyer was served with a search warrant for his office a few days later and was added to the indictment a week later. Scruggs' lawyer has recently entered a guilty plea on conspiracy charges.

Langston Enters Guilty Plea in Scruggs-Related Case



There are new developments in the judicial bribery case involving prominent trial attorney Richard "Dickie" Scruggs. The Associated Press is reporting that another lawyer connected to Scruggs' practice has entered a plea in the bribery case.

Booneville attorney Joey Langston has pleaded guilty to trying to influence a Hinds County judge in 1994.

Langston is one of the defense attorneys who represented Scruggs.

On December 10, Langston's office was raided by FBI agents. Files related to the federal bribery case were seized.

In late November Scruggs and his son Zach and other associates were indicted on charges they conspired to bribe Circuit Court Judge Henry Lackey.

Another of Scrugg's associates, Timothy Balducci, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to bribe the judge in early December.

Balducci is working with federal prosecutors, who say he offered the judge $40,000 on Scruggs' behalf.

Now, according to the Associated Press, a 1994 lawsuit is being looked into by federal investigators, in which two of Scruggs' former associates, attorneys Alwyn Luckey and William Roberts Wilson Jr., sued Scruggs for a bigger share of millions of dollars the attorneys won in asbestos litigation.

The AP reports that Balducci and Langston paid former Hinds County District Attorney Ed Peters to try to influence Hinds County Circuit Judge Bobby DeLaughter's decision in the 1994 case.

DeLaughter has denied ever taking a bribe. Peters could not be reached for comment.

Dickie and Zach Scruggs and three associates have pleaded not guilty to the bribery charges.

[MRM]

Never trust an associate named Joey. Didn't Scruggs ever watch the movies?

[72doug2,2S]

U.S. consulting firm Arthur D. Little International Inc. studied the impact of smoking on Czech public finances at Philip Morris' request in November 2000. The study [Microsoft Word document] found the cost benefits of smokers' early mortality, together with cigarette-tax revenue, outweighed the economic drawbacks of health-care and other smoking-related costs.

Ethics 101