Tobacco Documents Online

and CEO Geoffrey Bible. The Teamsters, who own about $175 million of Philip Morris stock, say they continue to feel that a split of the food and tobacco operations into two separate units is in the best interests of shareholders. "Florida Judge Refuses to Delay or Dismiss Suit by Smokers" Miami Herald (7/9/94) P.28 A Dade judge Friday refused to dismiss or delay a class action suit brought by six Dade smokers who allege that the nation's major tobacco companies intentionally addicted their customers and conspired to hide information about the hazards of cigarette smoking. Attorneys for companies including R. J. Reynolds, Philip Morris, American Tobacco and Brown and Williamson told Dade Circuit Judge Harold Solomon that he is obligated to wait until a related federal case in Louisiana develops further. But Miami attorney Stanley Rosenblatt, who filed the Dade lawsuit in May, called the industry's move a ploy to postpone his clients' complaint forever. After Judge Solomon sided with Rosenblatt, the companies appealed his action to the Third District Court of Appeal. The firms hope the higher court will put off another hearing scheduled for this Tuesday on whether Rosenblatt's suit can be approved as a class action. "Joe Camel on Trial" Advertising Age (07/04/94) Vol. 65, No. 28, P. 1; Colford, Steven W. Last week, California's state Supreme Court declared that an unfair advertising suit against the Joe Camel campaign can go to trail. The court ignored the tobacco industry's longstanding argument that the 1969 Federal Cigarette Labeling & Advertising Act pre-empts state legal actions. Although the judges hearing the case didn't address whether the campaign targets children, Justice Armand Arabian wrote that "Congress left the states free to exercise their police power to protect minors from advertising that encourages them to violate the law." Peggy Carter, An RJR spokesperson, said, "We are quite confident that the facts will prevail and that the campaign is directed at all adult smokers." RJR attorney Joe Escher said a decision on appealing may not come for a month. Plaintiff Janet Mangini is seeking several million*dollars from the tobacco company, claiming that "if we wiry, we will seek injunctive relief to reverse the impact of the Joe Camel campaign ... and we will ask for disgorgement of the illegally obtained money from the sales of Camels to kids." I