In the Mid-1990s the United States Supreme Court Rendered

Question: In the mid-1990s the United States Supreme Court rendered a judgement that allowed the estate of a deceased smoker to recover a small pecuniary amount against a large contingent of tobacco companies. This monetary judgement, however small, opened a floodgate of litigation against the tobacco industry. Therefore the issue of proximate cause allowed cigarette companies to escape liability for wrongful death lawsuits to long-time smokers. But now spurred by the Supreme Court decision, plaintiffs from every state filed multimillion dollar lawsuits; attorneys brought actions on behalf of class action clients, and large coalitions of states banded together to file billion dollar lawsuits in federal courts. The state coalitions offered statistical evidence that soaring state health costs in treating constituents for smoking-related illnesses-such as lung cancer and heart disease-should now be borne by the tobacco industry. The states cited the recent cases that demonstrated the causal link between smoking and health issues. Immediately, the tobacco industry opened settlement talks

Which of the following statistics that came to light during the settlement discussions between the states and tobacco companies, that, if true, tends to undermine the states’ statistical argument?

1. Statistics reflect that many more women than men are stricken by illnesses related to smoking.
2. According to medical research, certain types of lung cancer and heart disease may be caused by other external hazards.
3. Smokers have a shorter life expectancy on average than non-smokers.
4. The larger, more populated states incur more monetary expenses than the smaller, less populated states in treating tobacco- related illnesses.
5. Proximate cause remains a legal issue in many federal district courts that will hear tobacco cases well into the 21st century.

In the Mid-1990s the United States Supreme Court Rendered – is a GMAT Critical question. This particular GMAT Critical Reasoning topic has been taken from the book ‘501 GMAT Questions’. In this particular topic, candidates need to choose the option that best suits the passage. GMAT critical reasoning tests the logical and analytical skills of the candidates. Critical reasoning in GMAT requires candidates to find the strengths and weaknesses of the argument, or find the logical flaw in the argument.  The GMAT CR section contains 10 -13 GMAT critical reasoning questions out of 36 GMAT verbal questions.

Answer: C
Explanation: In this topic, candidates need to select the argument that came to light during the settlement discussions between the states and tobacco companies. The option that shows the statistical argument should be the correct answer. 

Let us consider the following assumptions that came to light during the settlement discussions between the states and tobacco companies:

1. Statistics reflect that many more women than men are stricken by illnesses related to smoking.
   Option A states that women have something in them which makes them more vulnerable. Therefore smoking cannot be the only cause. Hence option A is incorrect. 
2. According to medical research, certain types of lung cancer and heart disease may be caused by other external hazards.
   Option B implies that the state coalitions showed the recent cases that demonstrated the causal link between smoking and health issues. This shows the reason for high health costs in treating illnesses-such as lung cancer and heart disease. Hence option B is not correct. 
3. Smokers have a shorter life expectancy on average than non-smokers.
   In option C it has been stated that smokers are dying young. Hence their life expectancy is not under discussion and doesn't add value to the argument. Hence option C is the correct answer.
4. The larger, more populated states incur more monetary expenses than the smaller, less populated states in treating tobacco- related illnesses.
   Option D is incorrect.
5. Proximate cause remains a legal issue in many federal district courts that will hear tobacco cases well into the 21st century.
   Option E implies that in case proximate cause remains a legal issue, then these tobacco companies can allege health issues. Hence option E is insufficient. 

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