Sunday, May 24, 2009
A legal battle against the tobacco industry that began a decade ago is almost over now that a federal appellate court has upheld the landmark ruling from 2006 that ruled cigarette makers had violated federal racketeering laws in an effort to deceive the public about the dangers of smoking. In a unanimous ruling by a three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, the court said on Friday there was plenty of evidence to conclude the tobacco industry intentionally deceived the public about the dangers and addictions that come with cigarette smoking.
The appeals court ruling upheld Judge Gladys Kessler’s order from 2006 that bans tobacco companies from marketing cigarettes as being “light” or “low tar,” and requires the industry to better inform the public about the health effects of smoking.
But the appellate judges rejected the Justice Department’s request that cigarette makers should have to fund a $10 billion national campaign to tell Americans to quit smoking. They also refused to revive an earlier effort to force the cigarette industry to turn over $280 billion in profits to the U.S. government.
Defendants in the case, including Philip Morris’ parent Altria Group Inc., Reynolds American Inc., British American Tobacco PLC, Lorillard Inc., and Brown & Williamson Tobacco, are expected to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. However, some legal analysts doubt the industry will gain a sympathetic ear with the high court.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
Appeals Court Upholds Landmark Ruling Against Tobacco Firms (by Brent Kendall, Wall Street Journal)
Cigarette Makers Lose US Appeal (BBC News)
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