Warning: Overabundance Of Warning Labels May Lead Public To Ignore Warnings That Really Matter.

Jul 22, 2009

By Patrick.

Warning: Filing of frivolous lawsuits should lead to court-imposed sanctions including multiple attorney’s fee awards.

The nonprofit Cancer Project filed a lawsuit today on behalf of three New Jersey plaintiffs asking the Essex County superior court to compel [Oscar Meyer, Hebrew National, and Nathan's Famous] to place cancer-risk warning labels on hot dog packages sold in New Jersey.

The plaintiffs seek class action status on behalf of all New Jersey citizens who have eaten, or are likely to eat, hot dogs. The theory is that by placing such labels on hot dogs, frankfurters, sausages and the like, consumers will be able to make an educated choice about the foods they eat, in full knowledge that the inevitable consequence of an all hot dog diet is colorectal cancer.

The Cancer Project is a branch of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. Of course the people behind the suit know full well that their case has no chance of success. The suit is a stunt, or as the plaintiffs might put it, an educational project. That court rules, even in New Jersey, demand punishment for those who file lawsuits with no prayer of success is no deterrent.

And why would it be? The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, despite its name, is not a health organization. Rather, it is closely and strongly affiliated with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, receives donations from PETA, and advocates for a vegan diet not out of a commitment to health, but because it believes animals, including hot dogs, should enjoy the same rights as humans. In the words of former PCRM spokesman Jerry Vlasak, “‘I don’t think you’d have to kill – assassinate – too many [animal experimenters]. I think for five lives, 10 lives, 15 human lives, we could save a million, two million, 10 million non-human lives.” That may not be responsible medicine, but it’s entirely consistent with the ideals of PETA.

Perhaps more than a Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, what America needs is a Lawyers Committee for Responsible Litigation, devoted to naming and shaming lawyers and the clients who use them to promote illegitimate social agendas or to extort money from defendants, using litigation as a substitute for politics.

Perhaps we could begin by placing warning labels on such people.

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9 Comments

8 Comments

Ken • Jul 22, 2009 @10:21 am

In the words of former PCRM spokesman Jerry Vlasak, “‘I don’t think you’d have to kill – assassinate – too many [animal experimenters]. I think for five lives, 10 lives, 15 human lives, we could save a million, two million, 10 million non-human lives.”

How many members of PCRM would we have to kill to deter them from filing frivolous lawsuits? They’re probably easier to hunt and kill than researchers. They’re probably malnourished and wearing shitty plastic shoes.
Robert • Jul 22, 2009 @11:41 am

Here in California, there are signs on just about every retail store with a “prop 65″ warning. The sign is the same if it’s a department store that may carry some products, like electronics, that have some lead solder in them, or a company that actually sells deadly toxic chemicals that require special handling!

The signs have become meaningless.
Windypundit • Jul 22, 2009 @12:19 pm

Last time I was in California, all the parking garages had warning signs because—and this will surprise you—there’s car exhaust in them.

In a personal injury case, you can sue someone for causing fear, can’t you? Can we expect class action suits against companies for having too many warnings, thus causing fear?
Danimal • Jul 22, 2009 @1:40 pm

Hot dogs don’t kill people, Jerry Vsalak kills people? Damned turnip molesters.
matt • Jul 22, 2009 @2:07 pm

lol dear god what has been created
Linus • Jul 22, 2009 @11:05 pm

I’m not trying to be a jerk (it usually comes naturally) but man, this post makes me want a Hebrew National dog right now, with kraut and mustard. Must.find.kwikemart…
Dennis • Jul 23, 2009 @7:59 am

If we just started treating the PETA people like the terrorists they are, a lot of this would go away.

I propose a bill making every PETA member and financial contributor a mandatory organ donor, with the organs to be harvested at any time convenient before or after death, and mandatory volunteers for medical experimentation. Think of all the rabbits we could save by doing cancer research on live PETA members.

We could then eat the rabbits. They are quiite tasty.
Robert • Jul 23, 2009 @9:30 am

I know what you mean, Linus. I remember about 15 years ago when the “Boycott Grapes” movement in CA was going strong, there was a car in front of me with a “Boycott Grapes” sticker. Even though I’m somewhat sympathetic to the plight of mistreated farm workers, I got the craving for grapes and stopped by and bought some on the way home.