Comments on: Oglala Sioux tribe sues beer companies over alcoholism

By: Maybe I should change the name of this blog to “Random Crap Clearinghouse”. « Whipped Cream Difficulties

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 13:45:53 +0000

[…] as the wide spot in the road near the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation where beer is sold, leading the Oglala Sioux tribe to file a lawsuit against various parties (including the Whiteclay stores and several brewing […]

By: Hugo S. Cunningham

Hugo S. Cunningham — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:24:51 +0000

@Smart Dude–
It would suffice to make alcohol possession a misdemeanor, provided the roadblocks were set up as you describe. But I suppose you were modeling the draconian penalties after our War on (Some) Drugs.

By: smart dude

smart dude — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:24:28 +0000

If the Oglala Sioux were serious about this problem in the slightest, they would (as “ps” suggested) make it a felony for any member of the Oglala Sioux tribe to purchase or consume alcohol.

There would be a permanent roadblock by tribal authorities on the road from Whiteclay doing breatholyzers on anyone entering the reservation and inspecting all vehicles for any firewater.

This is simply a scam by some members of the jackpot justice bar, getting the signatures of the tribal authorities on a fast buck settlement scheme.

By: Melvin H.

Melvin H. — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 22:44:36 +0000

Let's see: 12,500 cans per day/24 cans per case = about 521 cases per day of beer...divided four ways is about 130 cases per day per store... Sure seems like a lot of beer, for four stores, in an area that is not a large urban area; how does this compare to what a liquor store would sell normally? (I realize states are different when it comes to how and who can sell beer, etc.).

By: Advice Goddess Blog

Advice Goddess Blog — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 15:27:21 +0000

The Beer-Devil Made Them Drink It…

The Oglala Sioux tribe wants $500 million from beer makers, four beer stores, plus beer distributors its suing, for selling alcohol to residents South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, where alcohol is banned……

By: Hugo S. Cunningham

Hugo S. Cunningham — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 03:38:55 +0000

@Rich
I don’t see that loser pays would automatically improve things. If juries are in the habit of upholding what we consider unfair lawsuits, then the victim of the unfair lawsuit will pay the plaintiff’s costs. Or are you proposing some kind of one-way costs, only against the initiator of a lawsuit? That might be especially attractive for libel lawsuits, as a threat to free speech unless based on solid grounds.
In my State, there are one-way costs against defendant insurance companies when they try to dodge a legitimate claim.

By: Rich

Rich — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 01:57:52 +0000

Several years ago I clipped a cartoon. It showed a lawyer questioning a farmer on the witness stand. The lawyer asked, “So you’re the farmer that raised the corn that was sold to the distillary to make into alcohol which got my client drunk and caused him to have and accident?”

The country needs loser pays.

By: mojo

mojo — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:49:21 +0000

The Oglala have been nothing but trouble since they first tried to strong-arm Lewis and Clark.

By: Ron Miler

Ron Miler — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:45:33 +0000

I love how these comments attack and propose discrimination against everyone in the tribe over a lawsuit when I’m sure only a small portion of the tribe was involved in the decision to file suit. The generosity of spirit warms my heart.

If a black person brought a civil right action, would you be so blaze about suggesting discrimination against all blacks? Can’t you just attack the merits of the lawsuit which is pretty low hanging fruit anyway?

By: John Fembup

John Fembup — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:52:04 +0000

Ronald McDonald, are you listening?