A group of prison inmates in Idaho is suing major beer companies, alleging the brewers are responsible for their lives of crime.
One of the prisoners killed a man five years ago. Two others were convicted of grand theft and drug violations. All of the plaintiffs claim they didn’t know alcohol is addictive and habit-forming, that they wouldn’t have started drinking if they’d known, and all of their crimes are attributable one way or another to alcohol.
“I have spent a great deal of that time in prison because of situations that have arose because of people being drunk, or because of situations in which alcohol played a major role,” one said. “At no time in my life, prior to me becoming an alcoholic, was I ever informed that alcohol was habit forming and addictive.”
Source: Meghann M. Cuniff, “Idaho inmates: The beer made us do it,” Idaho Statesman, January 2, 2013 h/t overlawyered.com
Maureen Martin, a former legal fellow at The Heartland Institute, passed away on February 5, 2013.
