I've just read on Teletext that the US govt is offering the families of the unfortunate people who died US$1.5million (it varies from $0.5.to $4.5 depending on age, quals, etc.) Perhaps the unfortunate widower is making a point in an attempt to get the govt to up the payment.
However it is America, where a woman who tried to dry her poodle in the microwave successfully sued the makers for not including a warning in the instruction manual!