Tobacco companies to be smoked out by insurance firm

South Korea’s national health insurance body sued three cigarette makers for at least 53.7 billion won as compensation for health-care costs linked to smoking-related diseases. National Health Insurance Service filed the suit against KT&G, the former state-run cigarette maker privatized in 2002, as well as the local units of Philip Morris and British American Tobacco, in Seoul Central District Court, in a lawsuit which marks the first time a national agency has sought damages against an industry in which South Korea’s government was previously a key participant. The Korea Tobacco Association, which represents cigarette makers in South Korea, said in January the insurer’s proposed lawsuit has no legal merit based on past court rulings in favor of tobacco producers. That little aside is not necessarily true as legal precedent doesn't always suit the circumstances and attitudes of several months or years after it has been set. Speaking of attitude, Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell seems to have the correct attitude about Major League Baseball's new instant replay system. With the New York Yankees leading 7-4 in the bottom of the eighth, shortstop Dean Anna smacked a base hit to right field off Red Sox reliever Burke Badenhop. Anna slid safely into second base for a double, but then apparently took his foot off the bag while shortstop Xander Bogaerts was applying the tag. "I felt like I was on the whole time," Anna said. Red Sox manager John Farrell challenged the call, but it was upheld after video review. MLB addressed the situation after the game, acknowledging the call should have been overturned. The botched call did not affect the outcome of the game, however, as Badenhop retired the next two batters to end the inning. The Yankees won, 7-4.