madbaker | No jury service for me

So, the case was settled before I had to report for jury empanelment. It involved two contractors, lifelong smokers, who apparently died of lung cancer. Their heirs were suing several companies because they had manufactured products using asbestos. The contractors might have installed some of the products and thus been exposed to asbestos. Which presumably would have caused the lung cancer (rather than the pack-a-day smoking habit) and thus premature death, resulting in millions of dollars in pain and suffering for the heirs.

As you can tell from my rendition, I wasn't too worried that the prosecution would want me in the jury box.

Also, I am aware of the (literally!) 10,000 asbestosis cases that were dismissed last year by a judge for fraud. The cases in question were sent to several lawyer firms by a small number of medical screeners, who were paid for their diagnoses. Not for the screenings - for directing the claims to the lawyers.

What I'm reading: Charles Stross, Clan Corporate