NEWS

A letter to the editor of Bangor Daily News

Posted: February 19, 2001, 19:03
_
King could write it off
Saturday, February 17, 2001

I have always been a Stephen King fan and always will be one. Stephen and Tabitha have given so much to our community and charity organizations.

But I am puzzled as to why one of the wealthiest persons in the world (earnings of $65 million in 1999 alone) would sue his insurance company for $10 million (BDN, Feb. 13). Stephen King survived a horrific accident in 1999 and it is amazing he came through it alive. He endured many surgeries and months of rehabilitation, pain and suffering.

Ten million dollars won’t replace any of that pain and suffering. His insurance company paid him $450,000, which the company claims is the limit in that case. They add that King did not have the proper coverage.

Does King need $7 million more? (His lawyers would get $3 million.)

Why wouldn’t he write it off as a tax break? The average working man’s and woman’s insurance rates go up every time an insurance company pays out in lawsuits.

Stephen Podolsky
Bangor