Tobacco Documents Online

0 • RTf 08/23 2129 Tobacco verdict comes in third wave of suits Copyright. 1996 Reuters Ltd. AII rights reserved. The following news report may not be republished or redistributed, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of Reuters Ltd. NEW YORK, Aug 23 (Reuter) - An Indiana jury's verdict on Friday against the widow of a longtime smoker is part of a third wave of tobacco litigation aimed at proving cigarette companies knew the health risks of smoking. The latest wave of suits, which began in 1994, differs from earlier efforts in that most cases focus on the addictive nature of nicotine and allegations that the tobacco industry manipulates the level of nicotine to keep smokers hooked. - - Most juries hod refused to award damages against the industry because they blamed smokers for their own choice to start and keep smoking. As of this month. there had only been two times in which_ juries awarded damages to a plaintiff. The first was the landmark Cipollone case, which was the first tobacco case reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court. In that case, a Newark, N.J. federal jury in 1988 awarded $400,000 to the husband of Rose Cipollone, who died of lung cancer. -- - - -- The second award was given by a state jury in Jacksonville. Fla. on Aug. 9, 1996. The jury awarded $750.000 to a inan who smoked for 44 years before he was stricken with lung cancer five years ago. Jury consultants have said that attitudes have been changing since the 1994 surfacing of internal tobacco company documents that related to the industry's knowledge of the relationship between nicotine and addiction. In April 1994, the heads of the seven major U.S. tobacco companies testified before Congress that nicotine is not addictive. Since that time, attacks on the industry have mounted rapidly, The following are the major developments, - The Justice Department is conducting several investigations, including one examining whether the executives commitrea cer,;:, and if their companies lied to federal agencies. -- - - - --The White House on Aug, 23 approved Food ond Gru^ =. -r :rion regulations aimed at keeping cigarettes away from-cnilc.-- - --As of Aug. 23, 1996, 14 states and Son Franasco County had sued cigarette companies to recouo ln~ec.-r, :.~•- ._ csrs of smokers. --More than 200 individual suits and class actions nave c~an riled around the country on behalf of smokers, their tdmfiie> ar.:7-:.-2oole who . claim injury from secondhand smoke, - 0