Anne Landman's Collection
Tort Reform Project Budget
Abstract
This document is a privileged and confidential Philip Morris Tort Reform Project Budget from 1995-96. It shows how well-funded and widespread the tobacco industry's plan to alter the American judicial system is. It lists all the consultants, organizations, individuals and law firms the industry funded to promote alteration of the legal system in 1995-96.
In 2002, the consumer advocacy organization Public Citizen investigated the roots of the U.S. "tort reform" movement and found that the "movement" was actually a massive national PR effort initiated by the tobacco industry to reduce or eliminate exposure to liability law suits. The tobacco industry enlisted the participation of other industries like chemical manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, automobile manufacturers, insurance companies and others to alter the U.S. system laws ("tort") that give sick and injured consumers access the court system. Today's document reveals that the tobacco industry--alone--budgeted fully $21.8 million for the effort in the single year of 1995. (Public Citizen's report can be seen among the industry's documents at http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/cgi/getdoc'tid=qka22c00&fmt=pdf&ref=results) Today's featured document also shows that the industry paid an international public relations firm called APCO Associates almost $1 million in 1995 to implement behind-the-scenes tort reform efforts. APCO's job was to create chapters of "grassroots" citizens' groups called Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALAs). Another Philip Morris document about tort reform efforts states, "APCO has been setting up...Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse chapters...I would argue that it is important to continue because grass roots agitation for tort reform helps us to protect [our interests in SB 241 (a tort reform bill before the California legislature]." http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/cgi/getdoc'tid=kjr67d00&fmt=pdf&ref=results
A January 1995 "privileged and confidential" memo from Covington and Burling (a long-time tobacco industry law firm) states that, to be effective, media activities promoting tort reform "must not be linked to the tobacco industry." http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/cgi/getdoc'tid=lao00e00&fmt=pdf&ref=results
Yet another "highly confidential" 1994 Philip Morris memorandum states,
"Our success in the tort battles in the past two years has resulted in part from our ability to find non-tobacco industry messengers to head the fight. Our success in battling [Florida-type Medicaid legislation] will come in part from our ability to [use] the more acceptable public face of key business association or coalition leaders." http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/cgi/getdoc'tid=hym22a00&fmt=pdf&ref=results
Fields
- Notes
This budget document was marked "privileged and confidential." Privilege has been removed.
- Company
- Phihlip Morris
- Author
- Presumed corporate author, Philip Morris
- Recipient
- Presumed corporate recipient, Philip Morris
The tobacco industry spearheaded a massive national movement aimed at altering the American judicial system to prevent/restrict lawsuits against it.
Association funded by manufacturers which tries to change in American laws to benefit product manufacturers in lawsuits involving their products.
Retained by PM to organize the front group TASSC, (The Advancement of Sound Science Coalition")
Tobacco industry law firm. Was involved in organizing the Whitecoat Project.
Tobacco Industry law firm based in Kansas City, KS.
Document Images
PRIVILEGED & CONFIDENTIAL
l:u. States
Alabama
Product Liability Alabania Voters Against Lawsuit Abuse
Calvm M, Whitesell
~ Judicial Flections
-_ AJaLa~m r 1 otat
+
Arizone
Arizona'Cota1
ArEansati
Carpenter, Snodgass & Associates
T{oward, Rice, Nemerovski, Canady, Robertson & Falk
Nielsen, Merksazner, Parrinello, Mueller & Naylor
!1[l.nrtk;4 ti'Cot_i(_ California
C;alifornia CoEal
Colora do
Ctslpra(to'Totaf_
C~nnecticui
Coniseclicut Total
October 3, 1995
c~~~y00 Page2of9 A
0
TORT REFORM PROJECT BUDGET
3
~
0
~-_
175,000
YEAR-TO-DATE
$1( )Oz(lil0 ~~ .
600,000 ~
~$10Q;000f -'
1995 REVISED 1 1996
BUDGET
25,000 225,000
62,069 62,068
xi7 (lb8 i _- 5787 U6A'
SEII g[I
-_ ~ - -_-
Sll~ ;_ .'~'U
100,000'
0
*10D,000
SZQO;'000:
BUDGET
w
A
r
z
$as;(aoul
~$ 5~() gOt~
7
180,000 240,000 240,000
19,355 24,355 50,000
26.629 38,061 59,000
$225;98~1 $30i.a 11> S34(1,00U-
~01 so ;$25, (/(lf R;
~
i50,00 J
PRIVTLEGED & CONFDIDENI°IAL
Florida
Associated Industries of Florida
BG & Associates International, Inc.
Bruce S. Rogow, P. A.
Cohn & Wolfe
Florida Conference of Black State Legislators
Florida Consultants Incorporated
Fotivler, White
Greenberg Traurig
J. Larry williams
Katlileen E. Daley & Associates, Inc.
L.Garry Stnith & Associates, Inc.
Lamonica Corporation
Misc. (Consultant Meeting)
Other
Pennington & Haben
Public Private Partnership
Rogers, To«ers, Bailey,.iones & Gay
Ronald L. Book, P. A.
The Rnbin Group
Rutledge, Ecenia, Underwood & Purnell
~ Spearrnan Management Inc.
Steel, Hector & Davis
Florida IbGwl~.
GcorKia
Ge~aia 1ot.il>Hawaii
Iia~wxii Tu1~I~~~
Idaho -
~
~~t:~i
Iaaho "I
TORT REFORM PROJECT BUDGET
1995 ORIGINAL
BUDGET
600,000
YF.AR-TO-DA'IE
$60O0t1(}i `
$2Qf1,000'
I
_
~15tY,(100
377,972
22,500
35,000
126,994
2,500
40,000
2D,000
65,748
20,000
22,500
45,D00
30,000
7,435
--
45,03D
20,000
50,000
50,000
50,060
10,000
20,944
30,000_
51;0'll fh3j
October 3, 1995
2O476483©1age 3 of 9
0
3
~
0
~
1995 REVISED
Bi7DGET i T 1996 I
BUDGET ~
0
~
677,972 500,000
22,500 0 A
35,000 0
166,994 50,000
2,500 0
40,000 0
50,000 0
135,748 50,000
40,000 0
22,500 0
45,000 0
30,000 0
7,435 0
-- 250,000
65,030 0
20,000, 0
5D,00DI 0
50,000 0
50,060 0
I0,000' 0
40,944 0
30,000 0
~1;51i.682' 1 $550,061{1 p
$ti I ~15i1,dOJ
PRIV[LEGF.,ID & CONFIDENTIAL
III. National Association of
Attornr,ys General
Dickstein, Shapiro & Morin, L.L.P.
Latham & Watkins
Citizens Coalition
NAAt; Totil
_ ~. - _ --
'
0
States/NAAG Total
IV. Conrmunications
r
ABC Blueprinting, Inc.
American Tort Reform Association
Audio Master Inc.
Citizens for a Sound Econonry
The Communications Group Limited
JR Publishing, Inc.
Murphy, Pintak & Gautier
National Media Inc.
The Product Lia bility Alliance
The Public Opinion Strategies
Roland House
Stock Video
Trice Talent Services, Inc.
Total Communications
October 3, 1995
Page 8 of 9
TORT REFORM PROJECT BUDGET 20476489000
1995 ORIGINAL
BUDGET_
300,000
1995 REVISED
YEAR-TO-DATE BUDGET
5300_ :OIHI ~
7,093,000
157,662
4192,192
~349, K 54
2 63i3,551
1995 ORIGINAL
BUDGET YEAR_-TO-DATE
8,435,000
fi8,4'15;ti00
$8,435,000
38
2,993,770
2,554
450,000
15,000
495
218,871
474,400
1,000,000
54,000
23,768
50
2,472
$5;735,418 f
$5 235,R18
1996
BUDGET
317,662 400,000
242,192 50,000
-- 250,000
$549;h541 ~7
00,t10(}
4,232,891 5,939~500
1995 REVISED
BUDGET
1996
BUDGET
38I 0
5,493,770J 3,500,000
2,554 0
450,000 200,000
15,000 0
495 495
218,871 0
474,400 0
1,000,000 0
74,000 50,000
18,956 0
50 0
2,472 0
$7,750,606 i j_ S3,7S0_,4I)5
57,750,606 . 3 750 495
PRIVILEGED & CONFIDENTIAL
TORT REFORM PROJECT BUDGET
1995 ORIGINAL
L_ BUDGET YEAR-TO-DATB
r Tennessee
t l flR,liilA pI
Teres a 400
000
Health Care Liability , a
Ju dicial Elcctions
Shannon Ratliff
Tesas Civil Justice Lea nc
--I
ILxasTotal ` S4llll;fl0l)
Utah
~
lJtah "t'otat~~ ~~-
~$ l[f0
000',~ ~
Vcrmont ,
ycrmont Total `J`80,000 I '
Washington
~
VG~wishi nglon'l.`ut.t!_ .y250d0(1
West Virginia
~ WJcst Virgmia "Cnuai ~ $2flfi;/!00 1
Wtscomtn
WisConstm'1'otal $li?0,000 l ~
Wyorning
\Vyan~ing 1={ita $50,001 ,
States Total $6,793.000
0
164,814
October 3, 1995
Page 7 of 9
~047 9 4:S 3 0
;
1995 REVISED
BUDGET
~~ ~S1fi4,814~~
St/
S01
30,000
--
30,000
164,614
S'2~;814)
$0
__ .F0
3'O
>$0
$2 2896 , 3 673 037
1996 ~
BUDGET 0
~
~25;000' W
A
0 r
i
300,000
0
150,000
_
54511{1110
$SI},t1110','
$'S(1,000'
-$7_51},f)Ofl
0
w
~
510I1,OOf) ~
~
~
$SU.I)QO ~
0.
15 239,500
~
PRIVILEGED & CONFIDENTIAL
1. Federal/National Matters
Class Action Project
CI~sS~lt,ti~~n Pu~]erL'J'oCrl Federal _H_ ealthcare Liability
Associated Industries of Florida
Mullenhob, Brintsek & Belair
1 edt.ral ilc: Ithrarc J.iatirlrtr'TotiJ
Amcrican Tort Reform Association
General Support
Multeple Punitive Damage.% Pro'~t
Amcric rn 1'or1=Reform Atisos.iation'Lot.rlRetained ConsultantsJNational Think'1'anks
~ American Lcgislative Exchange Council
The Civil Litigation Report
Crowell & Moring
Duke University Law School
Other
RDB Associates, Inc.
Richard A. Epstein
The Sinsheimcr Group
Stateside Associates
Vir inidder & Associates
Rc.taincd Consufiants/National'Phurk'1'nnk. 1'bfat __
Fcderal/National Contingeney
FcrJrYa)/h9;ntiaruil(.urtingcncy'Folrl
Ncderrt/NatiaoaiTotal `
TORT REFORM PROJECT BUDGET
1995 ORIGINAL
BUDGET
$o
200,000
$2(]O,1i00
YF.AR-TO-DATE
120,000
450,0r1(I
$570,600
~ 600,00(]
October 3, 1995
2041648299 Page1 0f9
1995 REVISED
BUDGET
80,000
29,400
~109,400
0
100,000
Fw11,00(}
50,000
10,000
50,241
3,000
S!,(111;(100
1R0,000
s1:mt;iiaii
26,235'
3,000
25,057
80,000
3,388
$250,921
1996
BUDGET
50D,000
55011,f100
204,000
29,4001
$?.13,4011I_ T
0
200.000
5200,0(1(1
70,000
10,000
16D,241
3,00D
33,686
3,000
35,057
96,000
3.388
$41-0,372
1
01
n
$'547,772 J~ ~ ~ $1;286,UUU
~
90,000
0
$911,0011,
150,000
0
Sl SO,tmO_
50,000
0
100,000
0
300,000
0
0
0
96,000
0
fi545,t10(>
PR-IVIL.EGED & CONFIDENTIAL
Illinois
ILGnois Manufacturers' Association
Miscellaneous
Other
Ilhiti2is "Cot,il _
Indiana
IndiaCrla'!'nLil Kansas
Shook, I-Iardy
ICanyas Tot:cl
Kentucky
K_cntuikY 1'otul
Louisiana
i
Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse
Louisianans Association ofBusiness and Industry
Louisiana for Legal Reform
Prodnct I iability & Judicial Elections
'
Cut~7
Lo~isiana
Maine
Doyle & Nelson
Preti, Flahcrtv, Beliveau & Pachios
Mainc'i'ot~tl Maryland
Other
Pipcr & Marbury, L.L.P.
~ ~
'
'
iztal
Marviand
t
TORT REFORM PROJECT BUDGET
1995 ORIGINAL
_ BUDGET YFA_ R-TO-D__ _ATE
150,000
~150,000~_
s,t/.01~0
350,000
S3sthllnD
%5,0u0
115,000
1,794
F 10,794
fio
713
X713
0
0
0
5b
50,000
7,770
b57,770
0
1.024
1
$1,024
Octob er 3, 1995
Page 4 of 9
2047648302
1995 REVISED
BUDGET 1996
BUDGET
115,000 0
1,794 0
50,000
'016,794 S5D,00(1
9
-- ~0 ~iza o, a{
1,213 1,500
SI;213 ` $1,5t71?`
s'zo (lDO~.i ~~ fi?S~(100
*130,000 ~_~,
I
*80,000 0
'100,D00! 0
500,000
5100111 , 0
7,770, 0
:657,7701 ~~~~ ~S7:5:11lip,
50,000 0
1,024 0
$51,1/24; $720 000`
PRIVILEGED & CONFIDENIIAL.
TORT RETORM PROJECT BUDGET
1995 ORIGINAL
BUDGET
YEAR-TO-DATE
Octobcr3,1995
Page 9 of 9
2047C48305
1995 REVISED
BUDGET
1996
BUDGET
A
O
3
'V. General Legal/ConsultantsJProject Management
W
Covington & Burling A
I'ees
2,500,000
881,087
v 1,481,0871
1,800,000 r
Expcnses 250,000 12 0,696 210,6961 200,000, ~
Total Covington & Burling S2, i tiO,OQT! ~1,tI01,7:i2 1 $1,fi91,7S3_ __ $2,11T10,00It'I
C~1 APCO Associates 930,000
Fees 562,624 991,638 900,000
Expenses *"368,523 "*500,000 200,000
Total APCO Associates :~93fiUf10
147~ 51,491,63ft _
~1;J410;000'
Field Staff
Total General Legal/Consultants/
Project Management
I
-3wiu,uuoi
fi-1,79Q,o0n -_
1,`132,~J,it1;
t~r
S3,i 8 C,471"
ssiut,t~nr
$3 tiOQ 4100;
VIe litigation Communication Project m
u
~
~
Danwal Security Services, Inc. 22,016 19,406 0 N
Misc. (Consultant Meeting) 8,982 18,982 40,000,
Rubin, Barney & Birger 188,538 388,538 400,000
I Virgil Scudder & Associates _
7,215 7,215 0
Total Communication Litigation Pro~ect .Fll Q $4 t.i.141 1440,t~ 00
TORT REFORM PROJECT TOTAL 121 868,0(l0 10 493a970 $16 ~O14 FB9 15 Q15 995
NOTES:
* Companies to pay these costs directly, not through Covington & Burling.
** This figure includes consultant costs and expenses related to media buys and other activities.
w
PRIVILEGED & CONFIDENTIAI..
Massachusetts
Ferriter, Scobbo, Sikora, Singal, Caniso & Rodophele
Hill & Barlow
New England Lega1 Foundation
Health Care Liability
Coalition
Ivlassa<'husetts't atel _
Michrhi~an
i
Michigan VotemAgainstLawsnitAhuse
`
lota_I
&Ijclii>;art
Minnesota
Briggs and Morgan
Health Care Liability
IbfinnesotR CiviI Justice Coalition
t4 innctiota '1'ot.i I
Mississippi
Corporate Relations Management
M-Fair
Montgomery, Smith -Vaniz & McGraw
Southern Strategies
Missi.ayl t 1'e~ial
0 Moniana
Monfsn.i Total
Nebra ska
Nca?r:+ska'1'nts+{ Nevada
Ncv:ida TuCEI New Hampsirire
'
ut_LI _
L_New 11amPshirc I
TOR T REFORM PR OJECT BUDGET
1995 ORIGINAL
BUDGET
350,000
$3_5U,t1f10
8(l,b(Nl
~KQ:OO11'
150, 000 ,
15,000 ~
$15,T/(t(1 ~_
27,097
$1.5f/,00O
478,000
October 3, 1995
Page 5 of 9
2047643303
1995 REVISED 1996
YEAR-TO-DATE BUDGET BUDGET
_ -1 -
~~S47H~,000-j
20,0001
i47,097_1
100,0001
0
129,720
28,000
$257,720
50~~1~
SO
S0
35,015 0
16,365 15,000
25,000 0
200,000 200,000
--
s27hr?`RO~
- - 150,000
$36_S;Bp(t
35,000 I 0
t35.(J(JO I
27,097 0
250,000
4S n00 I 0
$,12,09'I 1 $250,(100
120,0001 120,000
100,000 300,000 ~
671
194 000
100
, , .
63,000 0
5477,671_1 T $47H,01'1f1':
- s0 l
I
i
Sf1.
- - I I
' _S'll
_ -
SO`
--_;_
SI0'U00:: 7
50 $25nt)f) i
PRIVILEGED & CONF7DENTIAL
[1
New Jeisey
Princeton Public Affairs Group, Inc.
Riker, Danzig, Schcrer & I3yland
Health Care Liability
I_'~ew3rrsc~l'otnl ~ -
New Mcxico
tic;Ilth Cwc Liabilitp
f)hio7olxl ;:
Oklahoma
Ohio Alhancc tix CiA1 Justice
-
1Vo>"th_ Da[cotri ToYo-cl Oltio
I{clsh, Krf sh, Kn Ft' & Austin
PForNr_~a,oGna_ 7'ulal _
North Dikoia
Bode, Call & Green
Don Beason
North Car0tina CStizens for Rusiness and Industry
North Carolina
Nryz Y(c1'('r)ta1
Nc,v'Mcxiro;,Tnt.c[ Nc w Yor3
Ilcaltfi (.uc Li,cMliq~
Oroyfln Tot.il
Penusylvania
OreFvn Liu~ntton Rclurm
i)klalramm
J'uta_ f-Oregon
Pcnnsvlsania'Pot.d
~ South C arolina
L _4outhf trulina'Iotal
TORT REFORM PROJECT BUDGET
1995 ORIGINAL ^
BUDGET YEAR-TO-DATE
120,000
] O(I,00U
$Uy0
OQ0
,
5(/,( KJO
$50,00[I }
D1
100,010
42,000
4,834
S46,x34
October 3, 1995
Page 6 of 9
2047648304
1995 REVISED
BUDGET
13,000
22, 356
so,000
S85 34f,d
4,4601
$4,460! _
- 20,00q
_
Si~ou;iluu _ ~ ~Ja.o,0o[
$10lI;Ollll~ ~0 _'
]{IQ,UUO I
D
0
,
1
kJ0
--- -
51nD`gt~ft _ - 51r1,t)ni1 '_
$12[Jzn(O S(?
42,000
6,334
F
' ~4 Y,33!1
1996
BUDGET
50,000
$0~ $ 5(1.t100
- -J 50,000
I~ $5
f
$
0,
10-11i
3D,000 0'
30,356 0
_ 5D,0DO a
$110,356 3(1I
10,419
$10;41')
U
$15,000
40,000 0
$4 0,000 S50,11b)0
~ -
$01 ~ ~$SC1,f)Ofl,
10,000-I_ 0
~ t()~1Dn ~ ~sn,nq(F
$0
~5t),0t10I
I
I
. T0+ $50.Uf1(~
