Tobacco Litigation :: essays research papers

THE BATTLE OF MINNESOTA Document Discovery In The 1997 Minnesota Tobacco Litigation . I. INTRODUCTION Although any legal observer would tell you the prospect long loomed on the horizon, on July 14, 2000, when a Florida jury handed down a judgment of $144.8 billion dollars against the seven major tobacco companies , the mental shock of hearing such a figure was still staggering. It remains unclear as of this writing exactly how much of this massive verdict will ever be collected by the plaintiffs - a behemoth class of Florida smokers - injured by the products marketed, manufactured and sold by the defendants. In the days immediately following the judgement, the tobacco industry carried on business as usual and even the companies’ stock prices remained largely unchanged . Irrespective of the minimal immediate financial and social effects of this judgment, the legal implications for the tobacco industry, the plaintiff’s bar, and the state and federal government entities presently bringing suit for tobacco related harms, cannot be overemphasized. The Florida judgment, the largest in civil legal history, although unique in its outcome, was only one more chapter in the long and still unfolding saga of American tobacco litigation. After many years of successfully fighting countless â€Å"wars† in the arena of civil mass torts, Goliath had fallen, and although he was far from dead, he could no longer afford to laugh at the prospect of the battle before him. The husband and wife legal team of Stanley and Irene Rosenblatt had successfully felled an opponent that, less than a decade earlier, had toppled even the best and brightest of the plaintiff’s bar. The Florida plaintiffs’ arsenal, however, was filled with the unique and powerf ul ammunition of countless â€Å"confidential† documents passed between the defendants’ employees, and even their legal counsel. Without a slingshot full of these stones, Goliath was unlikely to have fallen, and the manner, and legal justification for how they were introduced into evidence remains a controversy of great legal significance. For even now, as the practical and legal ramifications of the Florida case and judgment remain unclear, many legal scholars are still busy debating the outcome of a prior legal battle, without which the Florida judgment never could have occurred: the battle of Minnesota. II. Tobacco Litigation - A History of The Three â€Å"Waves† A. The â€Å"First Wave† (1950 - 1980) For ease of reference, the history of tobacco litigation is usually summarized into three â€Å"waves.

Telecommuting and Human Resources Essay -- GCSE Business Marketing Cou

Telecommuting and Human Resources Introduction On September 20, 1994, some 32,000 AT&T employees stayed home. They weren’t sick or on strike. They were telecommuting. Employees ranging from the CEO to phone operators were part of an experiment that involved 100,000 people. It’s purpose? To explore how far a vast organization could go in transforming the workplace by moving the work to the worker instead of the worker to work. Today AT&T is just one of many organizations pioneering the alternative workplace (AW-also known as telecommuting) – the combination of nontraditional work practices, settings, and locations that is beginning to supplement traditional offices (Apgar, 121). According to IDC/Link Resources, New York, approximately 8 million Americans currently telecommute. A survey conducted by Olsten Corp., Melville, N.Y., reports that 62 percent of North American companies encourage telecommuting (Riggs, 46). In addition, research shows about 50% of all employees either have a job that lends itself to telecommuting or want to get involved in telecommuting. Most researchers agree that telecommuting growth is fastest in companies employing more than 1,000 and in those with under 10 employees (Harler, 26). Current Situation Telecommuting came into existence out of necessity. First, increasing global competition has brought pressures and opportunities to businesses, consultants, and service vendors. As a result, the Yankee Group predicts that as many as 80 percent of all employers will have to adopt remote work in order to compete in world markets by mid-to late nineties (Manire, 51). Second, the Information Age necessitates that companies move faster and thus act and react to business conditions sooner. Third, telecommuting has been increasingly enforced at state and federal levels due to the Clean Air Act (CAA) of 1970, as amended in 1990. The CAA affects any firm with over 100 employees in areas with â€Å"severe ozone attainment levels†, which covers every good-sized city in the nation (Harler, 27). The Impact of the Internet on Telecommuting The Internet is widely becoming part of the plan when implementing and integrating telecommuting solutions. The Internet can add a powerful dimension to the management of both internal and external information functions and strengthen the organization’s human resource management informa... ...ivity remains an objective for management as we approach 2000. But we realize today that significant gains in productivity may not be achieved not through division of labor but by creating mechanisms for people to communicate more effectively and to manage information more efficiently. Bibliography: Apgar IV, Mahlon. (May/Jun 1998). â€Å"The alternative workplace: Changing where and how people work†, Harvard Business Review, pp-121-130. Berhard, Frank. (March 15, 1998). â€Å"Upside economics of telecommuting†, America’s Network, pp20-23. Harler, Curt. (March 15, 1998). â€Å"The good, the bad and the fattening†, America’s Network, pp26-28. Hein, Kenneth. (May 1997). â€Å"Virtually always at work†, Incentive, p9. Kuzmits, Frank and Santos, Brian. (Spring 1997). â€Å"The Internet: A key tool for today’s human resource professional†, S.A.M Advanced Management Journal, pp33-39. Manire, Ross W. (January 1997). â€Å"Remote access: The â€Å"drive to work† in the information age†, Telecommunications, pp50-55. Riggs, Lynn. (June 1997). â€Å"New approaches to management†, Credit Union Management, pp46-48. Thompson, Courtenay. (October 1998). â€Å"Telecommuting exposures†, The Internal Auditor, p67.

An Assignment on the Linguistic Acquisition Device Essay

In linguistics, language acquisition is the process through which human beings obtain the capability to comprehend and perceive language as well as produce sentences and words and utilize them to communicate. According to Chomsky, his Linguistic Acquisition Device (LAD) encompassed a device that children were born that could be defined as the inborn ability to comprehend the language principles. This LAD fits his innateness Hypothesis of language acquisition because he believed that once a child was exposed to language, the LAD would enable him or her to learn language in an outstanding pace as also elucidated under his critical period hypothesis Question Two According to Noam Chomsky’s critical period hypothesis, human speech encompassed a genetically programmed ability that had a critical age threshold. This is because like a variety of other human behaviors, an individual’s ability to acquire language is based on critical periods that are defined as the limited time span during which the individual is sensitive to the language acquisition external stimuli that enables him or her to acquire language. Once this time is surpassed the individual has minimum chances of acquiring language. This critical period in language acquisition was adolescence to Chomsky. Question Three Genie was discovered in Los Angeles on November 4, 1970. She was discovered by a social worker in Temple City, California when she accompanied her mother as she sought for disability benefits due to near blindness. The social worker had initially sensed that something was wrong with Genie and she got so shocked when she greeted them and discovered that Genie was actually 13 years old though the social worker had estimated that she was autistic and half that age. The social worker contacted her supervisor, who after questioning Genie’s mother contacted the police. Genie’s parents were later arrested and she was made the ward of the court and later transferred to the Children’s Hospital Lost Angeles. She was unable to acquire a language within a critical period due to the severe child abuse she went through under the hands of her father. Question Four The symptoms she displayed of this failure after she was discovered were here severe undersize regardless of her advanced age of 13 years. She had no understanding of grammar she could only comprehend 15-20 words. Two short phrases were what consisted of her active vocabulary and hence she had complete lack of speech, not because she was selectively mute but because she lacked any type of language. Though she had considerable memories of her past she lacked a way to communicate them. Question Five The forbidden experiment was the language deprivation experiment under which infants were isolated from any normal utilization of signed or spoken language as an attempt to discover the origin or language or human nature’s fundamental characteristics. Viktor became a model of this experiment because before his discovery he had lived in a forest like a wild animal and had been unable to understand or speak any language. After being placed under the care of Dr Jean Marc Gaspard Itard, he acquired the language rudiments and became socialized. Question Six She began to use the two-word phrases when she started to understand about 200 vocabulary words. Her speech began to improve after settling in her ne surrounding though it continued to exhibit latency. With time she started using negative forms with not rather than the prefix un. By October 1973 she could easily comprehend complex negation forms. By October 1971 she could listen to people talking and even contribute to the conversations. By November f the same year her speech and grammar could be equated to that of an 18 or 20 month old baby. By 1972 she could use complex noun phrases and regular plurals as well as understand interrogative words. By 1973 she was using determiners, definite articles, possessives and imperative sentences. She however did not acquire automatic speech. Question Seven The ethical implications of the language deprivation experiment are that it encompassed an inhuman experiment that would deprive the infants of their language acquisition abilities. Regardless of this Viktor benefited from this experiment because he was later able to acquire language rudiments and be socialized. The ethical implications of the experiments on Genie were linked to the fact that they subjected her to additional child abuse rather than help her because the researchers were more focused on the results of their results rather than hoe the research could benefit Jeanie. To some extent Jeanie benefited from the experiments because her language abilities improved but the researchers used her to acquire fame.

The Masterpeices Of Art As We Know It †Western Art Essay

The Masterpeices Of Art As We Know It – Western Art Essay Free Online Research Papers The Masterpeices Of Art As We Know It Western Art Essay When discussing masterpieces of art, the majority of people tend to think of Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh or Pablo Picasso, all of whom excelled in their specific area or medium. However, most masterpieces do not simply show a refined skill in applying the medium to canvas or accurately portraying a certain subject matter- the work I have chosen as a â€Å"masterpiece† is Paul Gauguin’s â€Å"Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?† (Fig. 1), an oil on canvas image, depicting the three major stages of life. For me to consider a work of art a â€Å"great† art piece, it must force me to see something from a new and unusual perspective, or provoke me to think about some aspect of reality I have been ignorant of. The iconography, medium and style of Gauguin’s painting may not be held in the same level as Leonardo da Vinci’s â€Å"Mona Lisa† or even Michelangelo’s â€Å"David†, but any work of art that is able to communicate a message so effectively without words and still visually appeal to the viewer proves that the artist did not simply set out to paint a â€Å"pretty picture†. Gauguin’s painting can be appropriately broken into three parts- read from right to left (although it is not a continuous narrative because it does not illustrate a story)- the first section including a baby and three young women, which can be assumed to depict the first question, â€Å"Where Do We Come From†. In the center stands a youth picking a fruit from the tree of knowledge and a fair woman pondering in the distance, as these two figures seem to be questioning their existence and desire answers to life’s mysteries, suitable to be titled â€Å"What Are We†. The last section of the painting, which portrays the last question, â€Å"Where Are We Going† shows two figures, an old woman nearing death, and a mature woman also questioning her future. The dark colors of the picture seem gloomy and uninviting, and made me think about Gauguin’s mental state at the time he completed this picture. The entire mood of the painting, including the title , show Gauguin as a suicidal artist, unappreciated and ignored by the masses, as he inquires about the meaning of life and even what the future holds for him. I have to admit that Gauguin’s application of color may not seem as â€Å"neat† as previous oil painters, with him utilizing patches of color that appear slightly smeared or blotched onto the canvas. And whereas some oil painters are able to create a smooth surface effect, it seems that Gauguin has purposely completed his picture appearing very crude, with either the texture of the canvas or the numerous layers of paint seeping through. Since oil paint is usually not opaque, it also seems that Gauguin has not bothered to blend any of the shadows or lights, leaving fairly distinct borders between the various colors, for example, the green shadows on the yellow flesh are almost inhumane, due to the fact they do not appear to blend or truly create any sort of dimension on the human figure. But the way Gauguin has applied his paint and color is simply characteristic of his style, and at this point in his life, 1897, he had been heavily influenced by the Tahitian atmosphere in which he had been living in for the past few years, and there is clearly a Tahitian feeling in the image. There is a steady balance between warm and cool colors, and a decent balance between the lights and darks, although the contrast between the latter is quite distinct and force the viewer’s eyes to leap around the painting. Moreover, Gauguin was a post-impressionist, and has placed more emphasis on the form and structure of his figures, all of which are very curvaceous and round. His subject matter is also one of timelessness, not a single moment captured in an image, and is a painting that cajoles the viewer to ask himself those very questions in the title. This painting in particular is not one of my favorite works of art, specifically due to the color application and style, but I am more attracted to its message rather than aesthetic values. There is no one definition as to how a work of art can be called a â€Å"masterpiece†, but I feel that art should not simply appeal to the eye, but also to the mind, and if any piece of art forces its audience to contemplate issues that people have been increasingly ignorant of throughout the years, as well as question the artist’s objective in utilizing a certain style, medium or array of colors, can be considered a masterpiece, and Gauguin’s painting has accomplished all of the above mentioned. Research Papers on The Masterpeices Of Art As We Know It - Western Art EssayHip-Hop is ArtAnalysis Of A Cosmetics AdvertisementWhere Wild and West MeetMind TravelThe Masque of the Red Death Room meaningsThe Spring and AutumnHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaBringing Democracy to Africa

Gods Judgement and The Great Gatsby Essays

Gods Judgement and The Great Gatsby Essays Gods Judgement and The Great Gatsby Essay Gods Judgement and The Great Gatsby Essay Essay Topic: The Great Gatsby The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald talks about selfishness of others and judgment of God.Gatsby, also known as our protagonist, is a guy who sets his life around one desire. The thing that he desires the most is to be reunited with Daisy Buchanan, a women he feel in love with many years ago. Although this might seem romantic, unfortunately Daisy has a husband, Tom Buchanan, known as our antagonist. Tom is wealthy, yet a very despicable man. The Main conflict is really Tom and his actions. Tom has a conflict with everyone in the book because he issuch a cynical and aggressive man. His biggest conflict is with Gatsby. Tom is very selfish and does not have the desire to change his self or his attitude. Along with Toms selfishness is the judgment of God. The author uses Doctor T.J. Eckleburg to represent something much more than just a billboard. He symbolizes Doctor T.J. Eckleburg as the Frowning eyes of God. Toms selfishness,leads to Mr. Wilson downfall. In chapter eight Nick talks about Mr. Wilson whom starts to become more aware of Myrtle and her affair.Nick specificallycontrast Tom Buchanan (who is not capable of feeling any type of emotion),with George who is devastated and overpowered by his own emotions. Wilson, who was grieving told nick that he had began to suspect his wife of having an affair. He had found a a very pricey dog collar in her room (from Tom) and a big bruise on her face one day (again from Tom). Wilson came to the closure that whomever was driving the vehicle was possibly the man having an affair with Myrtle. All the things that he found in Myrtles room was purchased or made by Tom. If Tom never had an affair with Myrtle, she would most likely have a nice caring/ loving relationship with Mr. Wilson. Tom was too arrogant and too self-centered to care about another mans feelings. He honestly did not care that he was sleeping with a married woman and he did not care t hat she happened to be marri :

How to Write a Controversial Essay on Abortion Worldwide

How to Write a Controversial Essay on Abortion Worldwide When writing a controversial essay on abortion, you need to make sure the facts and statistics you use are supportive of your main argument. However, any good writer will present both sides to the argument and to do that, you need data from both sides. Before you start your research get some note cards and highlighters ready. These tools will help you to make notes as you go. Whenever you write something down, no matter how trivial or short it might be, note the corresponding bibliographic information including the page number. This will save you heaps of time later when you are reaching your deadline and trying to put together your reference page. Research With a controversial essay, it is imperative that you check the sources you plan to use and evaluate their merit. Do not use unreliable sources. Start with your school library. This is where you can find books and journal articles which are written by reputable sources. Of course, even reputable sources might have funding that raises some questions. Look for: the author or authors; what their degrees are; where they were received; what other peers have had to say in reviews about their work; what other work they published; who funded the study. With controversial topics like abortion, you should never just accept a statistic as pointed out by a single author. Check the original source for that statistic. Put the statistic into proper context. You need the complete picture before you cite that source. Turn to academic databases to find reputable sources. Read over the abstracts to see which ones best fit your topic and then open the entire article and read over that to gain a better perspective. You want to avoid the internet as a reliable source, especially sites that end in â€Å".com† as these are commercial websites, except in cases where you are simply reading some information about the background to inform yourself before you start the research. These are not meant to be sites that you use as sources. Writing With your notes ready, it is time to start writing. You want to either use the strongest to weakest order or weakest to strongest order for your presentation. This is a decision left to you, because neither is right or wrong. Tip: You can check the organization of your work by using an outline. Even a bullet point outline can help you to play around with the order of your work and find areas where the content might flow better or worse. With an outline, you can start drafting your thesis statement and your body paragraphs. Most students write the body paragraphs first, then turn to the introduction and the conclusion. This is useful because your introduction and conclusion both need the content from your body and if you try to write them before you have written the body, things will get very complicated very quickly. Read over the content for clarity and flow. Make any necessary edits and send it in.

Morse, Imminent Dangers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Morse, Imminent Dangers - Essay Example s a covert extension of the Catholic faith, and they too must be stopped in their missionary work due to their potential strength in influencing all levels of men in the society (Morse 304, par. 4). Supporting idea: Because Catholics strongly believe in the Pope, they are seen by Morse as blind followers that would endanger the liberties of the country simply by being in the United States (Morse 303, par. 3). Supporting idea: Based on how he describes the Catholics and the religion as a whole by using highly negative adjectives such as â€Å"miserable, intolerant fanatics, and pious bigots† (Morse 303, par. 3), it can be inferred that Morse came from a religion that deeply criticizes Catholicism. Supporting idea: Morse mentioned that the Jesuits are a secret society that has numerous members from all walks of life (Morse 304, par. 4), thus he sees the introduction of more Catholics as something with an ulterior political motive guised under religious intentions. Supporting idea: In order to fully separate religion from the state, Morse believes that followers of the Pope must not be put into power, for they could be easily influenced by the priests and bishops with regards as to how they would govern the people, making the religious entities rule over people covertly through powerful people in the government (Morse 305, par. 9). Supporting idea: Morse believes that what former President Jefferson predicted with regards to the inconveniences that could result from uncontrolled influx of immigrants was already happening in the United States, posing a threat to the peaceful living of the nativists and forcing them to harmonize with the immigrant population (Morse 307, par. 12). Supporting idea: There are other factors as to why immigrants tended to form groups, but instead of finding out why this came to be, he simply passed this as immigrants contradicting their profession of being naturalized American citizens (Morse 307, par. 13). Supporting idea: For Morse,