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Posted By: <b>Hal Lewis</b><p>Funny Ed!<br /><br />Our firm has never represent one single smoker. Never.<br /><br />Our firm represented the STATE OF FLORIDA and our former Governor in his lawsuit against the tobacco companies to recoup the billions of tax dollars that had been spent by the State on indigent healthcare related to tobacco smoking.<br /><br />Unfortunately, when a Florida resident on Medicaid needed a lung transplant and a lifetime of care for emphysema... the State had to use tax dollars to pay for that medical care. Now, those payments have been reimbursed to the State by Big Tobacco.<br /><br />Every dollar that we recovered for the State of Florida (payment comes every year for eternity) goes into the State's general revenue fund and is used to benefit EVERYONE in Florida -- not just smokers.<br /><br />Every citizen of Florida benefitted from our lawsuit by having their taxes remain much lower than they would have been.<br /><br />Not one single smoker was awarded a single dollar from our lawsuit.<br /><br />Frankly, like you, I am not in favor of the individual smoker lawsuits. I understand the logic behind showing that the companies tricked the people into getting hooked... but I think people still need to be able to just "quit" on their own.<br /><br />Hope this clears things up for you.

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Posted By: <b>Hal Lewis</b><p>Ed:<br /><br />Are you related to Rose Ann Kavetski, the legal counsel for Riddle Hospital?<br /><br />If so, then I would think that she would understand completely the costs associated with treating tobacco-related illnesses.<br /><br />Riddle has a great tobacco cessation program in place.<br /><br />I'm sorry if she thinks that smokers deserve compensation for everything that they have suffered...<br /><br />but that is a completely different ball of wax than what our firm was involved with.<br /><br />Here is where our settlement money is being used:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070212/OPINION05/702120302/1006/OPINION" target="_new" rel="nofollow">http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070212/OPINION05/702120302/1006/OPINION</a>

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Posted By: <b>Ed</b><p>In your own words "Not one single smoker was awarded a single dollar from our lawsuit", however you can sure bet that your company made a lot of money off of that lawsuit and the money that you are speaking about for the tax payers in the form of reduced taxes is something that tax payers never really see, should have been the same way that you got yours via the same reduction in taxes not in the form of massive fat paychecks for the lawyer-dogs. <br /><br />So, like I said sell them both and send the money to a family that was the focus of that case!

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Posted By: <b>Hal Lewis</b><p>And lastly, Ed...<br /><br />need I remind you that this is a public forum and that your accusations of our law firm have "jilted money from someone" is the textbook definition of LIBEL.<br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>Ed</b><p>Here it is, 1 PM on a Friday and you are here playing with your baseball cards.

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Posted By: <b>Hal Lewis</b><p>Ed, there WAS NO FAMILY that was the focus of our case.<br /><br />Every single smoker in Florida is free to retain counsel and sue Big Tobacco if they choose to do so.<br /><br />Our case was purely about statistical numbers and market-share liability, etc.<br /><br />No individual smokers were involved.<br /><br />Yes, the lawyers made money... but that is what happens when a defendant settles a case and agrees to this arrangement. <br /><br />If the tobacco companies had a beef with it, they were welcome to take the case to trial and win it... in which case our fee would have been a whopping $0.<br /><br />Apparently you have some biased against attorneys.<br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>rob</b><p>Hal,<br /><br />you are being kind by responding as much as you are to this junk, you really dont need to defend yourself in my estimation, this Ed character is taking pot shots that are way inappropriate, especially on this forum. How is that for a textbook run-on sentence <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14>

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Posted By: <b>Jason L</b><p>I have to go pop some popcorn, I'll be right back!!!<br />

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Posted By: <b>Ed</b><p>Spoken like a true lawyer. Someone speaks up about the fact that it is ironic that you collect tobacco cards as some kind of smack in the face of the fact that despite what you think that you did during that case, you have not in any possible way helped anyone who was suffering, smoking, hooked, whatever at the supposed lies of the tobacco industry. You stated yourself that not one single smoker was awarded a single dollar from our lawsuit and you did not deny that your firm was paid, so what is libel there Hal? What? Nothing. Hillarious, thanks for the laugh.<br /><br />No, no bias, I love lawyers. Wait, actually married one.

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Posted By: <b>Hal Lewis</b><p>"...despite what you think that you did during that case, you have not in any possible way helped anyone who was suffering, smoking, hooked, whatever at the supposed lies of the tobacco industry."<br /><br /><br />Our case was the very first time in the long legal history of Big Tobacco where the damning evidence of addiction was admitted by them, and it was the very first time that the tobacco companies ever agreed to pay a single cent for tobacco-related illnesses.<br /><br />If you can't see the benefit of this legal precedent, then I can't help you.<br /><br />Our case completely turned the public perception of Big Tobacco on its ear.<br /><br />If you can't see the benefit of this to individual smokers who are suing Big Tobacco in the future, then I can't help you.<br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>Chad</b><p>I just opened this thread and, as usual, I scanned to the bottom to see what was going on. Now I am completely confused, as usual.<br /><br />Anyway, I prefer rare in general to rare of condition, so I think I'd keep the Cobb back.<br /><br />--Chad

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Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>Ed- Posting like this anonymously, entirely off subject, and rather aggressively to boot, is probably a bit askew of board rules.<br /><br />Anyone care to talk about Cobbs with Uzit and Cobb backs?

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Posted By: <b>Jason L</b><p>now what we really care about, apparently, is whether or not you think <br />1) smokers should be entitled to any cash reimbursement from Big Tobaccy for demonstrating their own inability to think critically, and<br />2) what you think of lawyers involved in the Big Tobaccy lawsuits, and <br />3) if Florida is better to visit during the heat of summer or during hurricane season<br /><br />Regardless, Hal still needs to decide what to do with his Cobb cards.<br />If it were me, I would - aw shoot, I can't even make believe it was me!<br />Good luck, Hal. maybe sell them both, and start hoarding a less expensive card until it becomes extremely rare (or scarce, or whichever), then sell those off...<br />

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Posted By: <b>leon</b><p>If Ed didn't have his email with his full name in it, it would have been against the forum rules. As it is it's not. BTW, as much as we sometimes bad mouth lawyers the great majority are good folks. If I was smart enough (and stayed out of trouble) maybe I would have been a lawyer too....best regards

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Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>Hey, I could have been a doctor, if they just weren't so touchy about having to go to medical school first!

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Posted By: <b>Chad</b><p>1) I really don't know. Cigarettes smell disgusting, though and, as a drinker, it was a happy day for me when New York City banned them from bars.<br />2) Lawyers don't bother me at all until they sue me or let me get put in jail. Then I get all Cape Fear on 'em.<br />3) I like Florida in the heat becuase it makes floating down the Ichetucknee that much more fun. I like to say hello to all the turtles! Hey turtles, I call out, hey turtles!<br /><br />Seriously, tho, I'm not a Cobb fan--Mathewson is more my speed--but that Cobb with a Cobb back is a great card. <br /><br />--Chad

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Posted By: <b>Steve M.</b><p>In Florida is a tenancy where the parties are shown on the deed as Joe and Mary, without any mention of a right of survivorship, a tenancy in common or could it be a joint tenancy irrespective of the lack of such language.<br /><br />Thanks<br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>Joe D.</b><p>I might just spend the first few years of my retirement in Law School.<br /><br /><br />and Ed... I sense personal frustration in your post and feel for you - but I strongly believe your anger is misguided. Completely misguided actually.

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Posted By: <b>Sean</b><p>I would probably smoke the Cobb with the Uzit back and drink a Summit Pale Ale.<br /><br />That's what I'm doing!

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Posted By: <b>Ed</b><p>Not at all, nor misguided. Facts are facts, I was simply stating to give a little back as well as I saw a lot of irony in the entire situation. Obviously because I am a new poster, long time watcher, it affects the way that you are seeing this. <br /><br />Was my topic off topic? Yes, that was the point. Off topic just the same as which $50,000+ card should I get rid of? Who cares. You don't see Keith Olberman on here griping about what cards he should get rid of, just simply put it up for auction and keep it to yourself. <br /><br />I saw this entire thing as a way to promote his own item (since one will certainly end up at auction) and this original topic is only adding to the future auction, hence maximizing profit with maximum pre-auction exposure.

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Posted By: <b>Hal Lewis</b><p>Not true at all, Ed.<br /><br />I recently sent over 100 items out to various auction houses...<br /><br />but I have not publicized one of them.<br /><br />In this one instance, however... I was truly torn between which card to keep and which to auction off.<br /><br />As always, the collective wisdom of this site was invaluable.<br /><br /><br />Present company excluded, of course.

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Posted By: <b>Ed</b><p>I stand corrected. Sorry.

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Posted By: <b>warshawlaw</b><p>But Ed's got me beat by a mile. Thanks for making me feel better about myself, guy! <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14> <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14><br /><br />And in case you don't know, Hal is one of the really good guys in collecting, with a genuine passion for the hobby and a lack of attitude that you might otherwise expect him to have given the caliber of his collection. <br /><br />Edited to add the smileys; I'm kidding so don't go all postal on me.

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Posted By: <b>peter chao</b><p>Hal, Ed<br /><br />Now that we're all pals again, keep the Cobb with the Cobb back, that is a true scarcity. Remember, there's quite a number of old-line collectors that haven't gotten their Cobb with the Uzit back graded, yet. Who knows somebody might be holding a PSA 7 Cobb with a Uzit back but simply hasn't bothered to get it graded yet.<br /><br />Peter

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Posted By: <b>Jason L</b><p>that it's not me.<br />(All of my Cobb/Uzit's are graded, because you know what they say, ..."Uzit, or lose it.")<br /><br />Thanks everyone, you've been great...-But now it's Friday and I'm outta here!<br />try the veal and please be good to your waitress

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Posted By: <b>T206Collector</b><p>....then see which one you can get more for from dealers/collectors.<br /><br />If you're more interested in keeping one for reasons unrelated to wealth, then keep the Cobb/Cobb. If you want an Uzit back, you can pick one up with any number of common backs If you want a Cobb back, well, then you've got the only one.

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Posted By: <b>Dylan</b><p>Is this Ed guy actually suggesting that collecting 100 year old tobacco cards while representing a case against big tobacco is some sort of agregious offense? PLEASE, collecting these cards has nothing to do with tobacco and everything to do with baseball. It just so happens that they were distributed in tobacco packs. What a bunch of crap, i wouldnt have even been so nice as to respond if that crap was aimed at me.

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Posted By: <b>Cobby33</b><p>I think they should be donated to The Human Fund.

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Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>I didn't think you were allowed to post off topic if you were not a regular contributor????<br /><br />Better get to posting something useful and on topic Ed. You gotta lot of catching up to do.

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Posted By: <b>Sean</b><p>What's the Human Fund? Sounds like it just money for people?<br /><br /><img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14><img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14>

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Posted By: <b>Cobby33</b><p>I think our resident Seinfeld expert could give a cogent explanation of "The Human Fund..."

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Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>I think I am becoming the board "Seinfeld Savant". Ask him a question and he will instantaneously come up with the answer.<br /><br />George Costanza, being too cheap to buy Christmas gifts for his office mates, made up a fake charity- The Human Fund- and told his coworkers he was making a donation on their behalf.

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Posted By: <b>Brian Weisner</b><p><br /> Hi Hal,<br /> I'll take your UZIT Cobb for 75k if you will except a check from the Human Fund... Be well Brian<br /><br /><br />Hi Barry,<br /> Break out the Pole, Festivus is alive and well on the board....<br /><br /><br />PS Hal, keep them both, because I doubt there are any more Uzit 6's out there, and I doubt we will see many unknown Cobb backs hit the market. <br /><br />My last count on each card:<br /><br />Cobb/Uzit 7 known <br />Cobb/Cobb 14 known

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Posted By: <b>MVSNYC</b><p>Brian-<br /><br />slightly O/T, but to your knowledge, what are the highest graded Uzits & Drums? i think in the past you had said there is a PSA 7 Griffith, Batting Drum...and do we know if Hal's Uzit is the highest graded Uzit, or have you heard of or seen higher graded examples? <br /><br />while we are at it, let's apply the same question to all of the brand backs? (Hindu, Polar Bear, etc)...<br /><br />maybe this should be a seperate thread?