Md. Man Files $800M Cell Phone Suit

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@earthlink.net>]

Note: The statistics that refute this allegation must be extensive. 
The percentage of individuals who use a cellular phone worldwide, 
on an on-going basis, is staggering. The resolution of this suit, as 
well as many more that will be filed, will be interesting.

We live in an era where illness must have a source, and that 
source "has" to be negligent, where somebody will be asked to pay 
a substantial sum of $$$. I suppose we're asked to ignore the fact 
that there were illnesses, and cancers and death way before all of 
these new technologies cam along.....

Md. Man Files $800M Cell Phone Suit

BALTIMORE (AP) - A Maryland man filed an $800 million lawsuit 
against a cell phone maker and a telecommunications company, 
claiming years of using the wireless devices caused his brain 
cancer. 

Dr. Chris Newman, 41, of Jarrettsville, Md., brought the suit against 
Motorola Inc. and Verizon Communications on Tuesday in 
Baltimore City Circuit Court. 

The federal Food and Drug Administration has said there is no 
evidence that radiation from cellular telephones poses a health risk. 
However, the FDA has also said there is no proof that cell phones 
are risk-free. 

The malignant tumor was discovered in March 1998 behind 
Newman's right ear. Newman's attorney, Joanne Suder, said her 
client, a neurologist, used wireless phones at least several times a 
day between 1992 and 1998. 

``Because of the nature of his work he had to be in touch with 
patients on a minute-to-minute basis,'' Suder said. 

The suit seeks $100 million in compensatory damages and $700 
million in punitive damages. 

Concerns that cellular phones may cause cancer or other health 
problems have grown over the past few years. In June, the FDA 
announced a partnership with the phone industry under which 
about $1 million in studies on the issue would be conducted. 

A trade group for the wireless industry introduced a new policy last 
month requiring cell phone makers to disclose information on 
radiation levels produced by their phones. 

More than 90 million American now have cell phones, most of 
whom began using them in the past five years. 

Norman Sandler, a spokesman for Schaumburg, Ill.-based 
Motorola, said company officials had not seen the suit and could 
not comment. However, similar lawsuits over the past few years all 
have been withdrawn by the plaintiffs or dismissed by the courts, 
Sandler said. 

``We have maintained for years that such assertions are 
groundless,'' Sandler said. 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sandy Perle					Tel:(714) 545-0100 / (800) 548-5100   				    	
Director, Technical				Extension 2306 				     	
ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Division		Fax:(714) 668-3149 	                   		    
ICN Biomedicals, Inc.				E-Mail: sandyfl@earthlink.net 				                           
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Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Personal Website:  http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/1205
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