Health
Tobacco trial redux
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Oct. 11, 2004
The largest lawsuit yet against the tobacco industry began in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 21. The government is seeking $280 billion in industry profits as well as new regulations that guide how tobacco is produced, sold and marketed.
The government is alleging that cigarette companies engaged in a scheme to defraud the public over the past 50 years in violation of the Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act. The amount of money being sought is slightly more than was gained in the 1998 tobacco settlement in the case brought by states attorneys general.
The tobacco companies claim that the new suit is unwarranted.
The companies note that the earlier judgment caused them to change behavior by pulling ads from magazines distributed to young people and posting information about quitting on their Web sites.
However, organizations like the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids charge that tobacco companies are continuing to target young people with their ads and to mislead consumers with unproven claims that there are so-called "safer" cigarettes that carry less risk.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/10/11/hlbf1011.htm.
