WASHINGTON -- There's nothing new about lawyers, especially in the United States, attempting to profit from tragedy. When an individual dies after behaving irresponsibly, an attorney always can be found to blame someone with deep pockets.
Today many lawyers are as interested in regulating behavior as in making money. So it is with a raft of lawsuits against alcohol producers for having the temerity to advertise their products.
The multibillion dollar American tobacco suits were the mother of abusive litigation. Lawsuits have since proliferated against the fast-food industry.