Tobacco Products Liability Project
Topic: Prior Litigation
Abstract
Compiles an outline of excerpts from press releases, depositions (from Green and from Kraft), and statements regarding prior litigation against tobacco companies. Provides details from several specific court cases regarding product liability.
Fields
- Named Organization
- The American Tobacco Company
- Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans
- Chadbourne, Parke, Whitseide & Wolff
- Supreme Court, State of New York
- Court of Common Pleas, County of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Hartford Federal Court
- Named Person
- Green
- Hahn, Paul M.
- Rives
- Walker, Robert B.
- Kraft
- Pennoyer
- Harrigan, Edward A., Jr.
- Witt
- Dannemeyer
- Type
- compilation
- outline
- press release
- Date Loaded
- 08 Jan 2003
Document Images
19
2 2005350
Subject to Claims of Privilege and Confidentiality:
Produced Pursuant to Court Orders in State of Minnesota, et al. v. Philip Morris, et al.

The Yifth Circuit Cour= of Appeals in New
Orleans has just upheld a verdict in favor the The
~erican Tobacco Company in the Green lung cancer
case. This S!.5 =if!ion sui~ was decided by a j~:~
2, 1960.
Co.-._-.ent on =he Appeals Cour'- opinion iR favor
of the co.-_pan'.~.'.--s made b~' ~-.ul ..~..U.ahn, ~.'es!den~.
of The A.-..e.-ican Tobacco Co.-...can?, as follows:
lung canoe: case has been upheld by ~he Fifth
CourT of Appeals.
"This decision affirms the finding for the
pany made by ~he firs= jury to consider and render
a ve:dict in a lung cancer cas~ involv;ng smoking."
~n an opinion affirming the verd~c=, Judge
Rives, speaking fc: the Appeals Court, said
tobacco company "could no~ be held liable as an
absolute insurer aga;ns~. . consequences of "~;-~-,.... no
developed human skill and foresish~ could afford
knowledge." One judge dissented.
2. !O-Ks and Annual Repo:'.s (1954-1952):
1970 10-K:
Registrant and o~he: leading cigarette =anufac-
turers have been sued by par~ies seeking daaages for
cancer and other ailments claimed to have cesul=ed
~rom smokin~ cigarettes. A~ Ha:oh I$, 1971, a to~al
o~ 82 such actions, ~2 of them involving Registrant,
h~ve been disposed o~ without recovery by the plain-
ti~s. Only seven such cases agalns~ manufacturers
have come ~o t:!al and each resulted in a. jury verdict
~o¢ the de~endant or de~endanTs. At Ma:¢h 15, 1971,
Regist:an~ was a defendant in 10 pending cases, wherein
claimed damages range from exceeding $I0,000 to $8,500,000;
Subject to Claims of Privilege and Confidentiality:
Produced Pursuant to Court Orders in State of Minnesota, et al. v. Philip Morris, et al.

de~endan~ in the ochecs. Registcan~'$ counsel,
ths~, in theic opinion, on ~he basis of ~heic lnves-
cla~s o~ th~s chacacte~, Registrant has
defenses to t~e a~ove*~en:ione~ actions-. The actions
wil~ be vi~o:cuslF ~e~en~ed on the
!97! 10-.~ :
ae~s~:ant and ot~er leading cigaret~e ~anufac-
tu:e:s have ~een sue~ ~ pac~ies seeMin~ damages
cancer an~ other ailments clalae~ to have
~o~ s~o~!~g ciga:et~es. ~ ~a~ch 12~ Ig72~
ha~e hee~ dls~ose~ o~ v~mhout :ecovecF by the plaAn-
:~s. On1~ 7 such cases against manu~actu~e=s have
come.to t:ia! and each resulted in a ~y
~he-ein c~ai~ed damages ~ange ~o~ exceedin~
Pa:~e, ~hites~e ~ Wol~, have advised that,
~heir opinion, on the basis o~ the~: inves~iga=ions
generall~ an~ wi:h respec~ to suits an~ claims o~
this cha:a:~er, ~e~is~cant has meritorious ~e~enses
~o ~he a~o~e-men:ioned actions. The actions will
be vigorously de~en~ed on the me~i~s.
~e~ist:an~ and othe: lea~inq ciga:et~e =anu~ac-
~u:e~s have been sue~ b~ pa:ties seeming ~a=ages ~o~
cancer an~ othec aAl:en~s claiaed ~o have cesul~e~
~:o~-snoking c~ga:ettes. ~t Hatch 20, 1973 a total
o~ 95 such actions, 47 o~ them ~nvolving Registrant,
have been disposed o~ ~i~hogt cecove=~ by the plain-
~i~s. Onl~ 8 such cases against manuEac=uce=s have
cone to t:lal and each resulted in a ve=dic~ ~o¢ the
de~en~an~ o~ ~e~en~an~s. At ~arch 20, 1973, Registran~
~as the de~en~ant ~n 7 pen~ing cases, whe:ein claimed
danages ~ange ~on exceeding $10,000 to $6,~00,000.
~egistrant's counsel, Chad~ou~ne, Parke, ~hites~de
& Wolff, have a~vised that, in thei~ opinion, on
the basis of rhea: investigations ~enecal!y an4
Subject to Claims of Privilege and Confidentiality:
Produced Pursuant to Court Orders in State of Minnesota, et aL v. Philip Morris, et al.

wi~h ces?ec~ ~o sui:s and claims o~ ~his cSa~ac~ec,
Regis~an~ has me:i~o:ious defenses to ~e above-
men~ione~ actions. ~he actions will ~e vigocous!y
de~ended on ~he me:its.
~eg£s=:a~= and other leading tobacco =anu~ac-
have ~een s:ed by pac~es seeking damages
cance: and ochec ai:l:encs cla~me~ to have ~e-
sulmed ~o~,to~acco ~se. At Pebcuacy l, 1974, Re~is-
t~an~ has d~s~osed oE S1 such actions, and the in~us~:~
a ~otal o~ 10!, a!1 wichou~ ~ecove~y by the plain~i~s.
Onl~ 8 such cases a~a£ns~ ~anufac~ucecs have come ~o
t~ial a~d eac~ cesu!~ed in a ~u~en~ ~oc ~he de~endan~
oc ~e~en~anms. ~m Pebcua=y I, 1~74, Re~s~an~ ~as
~he de~endan~ in 3 ~en~£ng cases, ~he~ein cla~me~
~a~es ~A~ no~ excee~ SlO,IO0,O00 ~n ~he
One such action vas c~ence~ ~.Hay 1966
Su~ceme Cou:~, S~a~e'o~ ~ev ~ock,~ Coun~M o~ ~t~ ~o~.~~
one was co~ence~ ~n Feb[ua~y 1970 ~n ~he Cou~ o~
Co~.~on Pleas, County of Philadelphia,
~he o~he~ was co~.~ence~ ~n ~ovembe~ 1970
Su~e=e Co'~:~, S~a~e of ~e~ Yo~, County of Albany.
Reg.s~an~ s co~nse., Chad.ou~ne, ~a~ke, ~h~.es~de
~ wol~, have advised ~ha~ ~n ~heic opinAon, on
mhe bas~s o~ mheA: ~nves~!qamions generally and
~h :espec= ~o suits and cla~s o~ ~h£s cha~ac~e:,
Reg~s~:an= has me:i~o~ious defenses mo ~he a=cve-
mentioned ac=~ons. The actions v~ll be vi~ocous!~
~e~ended on ~he
;974 !0-~:
Regis~:ant and othec leading tobeacco =anu~ac-
cucers have been sued by pac~ies seeking ~a~ages foc
cancec and o~hec ail=en~s claimed to have cesul~ed
fcc~ ~obacco use. AC Febcuacy 10, 1975, ReglsCcanc
has disposed o~ 51 such actions0 an~ the industcy a
total o~ 104, all ,i~houc cecovecy by the plain:i~es.
only $ such cases against manu~actucecs have come
co" C~£a1 an~ each cesu!ce~ in a ~udgmenc
de~endan~ oc de~endants. At Febcuac~ 10, 1975,
• Regls~can~ ~as ~he ~e~endanc in 3 pending cases,
-hecein claA~ed da=ages did noc exceed
in the ag~cega~e. One suc~ action ~as com.~enced
2 0053 3
Subject to Claims of Privilege and Confidentiality:
Produced Pursuant to Court Orders in State of Minnesota, et al. v. Philip Morris, et al.

In Hay 19E6 in the Supreme Cou~t, State of Mew
¥O:k, County o~ ~e~ ~o:k; one was co~enced ~n
February 1970 In the Court o~ Common Pleas, County
of ~hila~elphia, EennsyZvania; the o~he~ was commence~
in ~ove~e~ 1970 in t~e Supreme Cou~t, S~ate o~ ~ew
¥o~k, County o~ ~l~any. Regist~ant's counseZ, Chadbou~ne,
?a~ke, ~hi~eside ~ ~o1~, have advise~ ~ha~, in ~hei~
oginion, on the basis o~ their lnvestleations generally
and wit5 respec~ ~o suits an~ cla~]$ of t~ls characte:,
Regis~ran~ has ~e:~o~ious defenses to ~he a~ove-=en-
tioned ac~Lons. ~he archons ~11 =e v~o~ousl~ de~en~e~
on t~e me:~s.
!)75 10-R:
Reg;.s'_:an~. and o'.het leading tobacco .~anufac-
~ucets have ~.een sued by pa=~es seekin~ damages
fo: cance: and ocher a~l=en~s cla~=e~ ~o have :e-
sul~ed f:o~ ~obac~ use. A~ Ha~ch I, 1976
has disoosed of 51 such actions, and:¢h~ ~ndus¢:y
Only eigh~ such cases a~ains~ ~anu~ac~ure~s have come
to ~rial and each resul.e~ in a jud~men~ got
de~endant o: ~efendan~s. A~ Ha:oh 1, 1976 Reg.s~.an,
"was ~he de~en~an= in ~ou~ pen~in~ cases, wherein
claime~ ~a~ages did no~ excee~ S~2,600,00~ in
a~g~e~ate. One s~ch action was commenced tn May !96~.~. ~
~n ~he S~p~e~e Cou~, S~a~e of Ne~ York, County cf
New Yo:~; one was co~enced ~n ~eb~ua~y 1970
~he Cou~ of Co~on pleas, County of P~lade!phia,
Pennsylvania; one was co~enced ~n Novem~e~ 1970
in ~he Supreme Cou:t, S~a~s o~ New Yo~k, County
of Albany; and the mos: ~ecen~ action ~as commenced
in Dece~be~ !9~5 ~n the Ci~cui~ Cou~ o~ ~he
of Richmond ~n V~:g~n~a. Re~s=:an~'s counsel,
ChadbouEne, Parke, Whites~de & WoZff, have a~vised
~ha~, ~n. ~he~ opinion, on ~he ~asis of ~e~: inves-
~i~a:~ons gene~aliy and with :espec~ ~o su~s and
cla~ms of ~h~s cha~ac~e:, Reg~s~:ant has
de~enses ~o ~he above-mentioned actions. The actions
~i11 be v~go~ously ~efended on ~he
1977 10-g:
Regis~cant and other leadln~ ~obacco manufacmumecs
have been sued ~y pac~es see~An~ damages foc cance~
252005354
Subject to Claims of Privilege and Confidentiality:
Produced Pursuant to Court Orders in State of Minnesota, et al. v. Philip Morris, et al~.

~obacco use. At ~a~¢~ 1, 1977, Regis~:an~ had dis-
pose~ of 52 such ac:ions, and the ~ndus~y a
o~ 105, all without recovery ~y ~he
On!y e~t such cases a~ains~ ~an~fa¢~urecs have
cone to tr~a! and each resulted in a ~uSgmen~ for
the de~endan: or de~endants. A= Hatch 1, 1977,
Registrant ~as the ~e~en~ant ~n three pen~ng cases,
where~ c!a~ed ~a~a~es ~id no: excee~ $10,100,000
the a~grega~e. One suc~ action was co~ence~ ~n Hay
19S6 Ln ~he Supreme Coup=, S=a~e o~ ~e~ Yoc~, County
o~ ~e~ York: one ~as co:.~ence~ ~n Yeb~uacy 1970 Ln
Ln ~h~ S~re~e Co~r~, Sta~e o~ ~e~ ¥or~, Count~
~l~an~. ~eg~s~ran~'s counsel, Chadbourne,
~h~tes~e & ~o!ff, have advised tha~, in
o~nio~, on t~e basis o~ their investigations gene-
ral1? and w~h respect ~o suL:s and claims o~ this
c~at~c~e:, Re~s:rant has meritorious de~enses to
thea.ove-...e...ione~~ - -" ac~i&ns~ ~he actions wild-be
v~orousl~ de~ended on the
1977 10-K:
~e~istran: and othe~ lea~ing tobacco ~anufac-
taters have been sued by pa:~ies seeking damages
for cancer and other ailments claimed to have
salted ~rom ~obac:o use. At March l, 1978, Registrant
had disposed of 52 such actions, and the indust:y a
total of 10?, all withou~ recovery by the
only nine such cases a~ain3~ manufacturers have
Regis:rant was ~he defendant in =hree pen~inq cases,
wherein claime~ ~ages ~Id not excee~
in ~he a~gregate. One such action was co~ence~
in May 1966 in the Sup[eme Court, State of New York,
County of New York; one was co~ence~ in
1970 in ~he Court o~ Common ~eas, County of ~hi!a-
~el~hia, Pennsylvania; an~ one was co.~mence~ in
No~ember 1970 in the Supreme Court, State of New
York, County of Albany. In addition, in October
.1977 an action in trespass and assumpsit was
co~ence~ in the Court of Co~on Pleas, County o~
Allegheny, Pennsylvania, against Registrant and
another tobacco manufacturer. There is no
252005355 :
Subject to Claims of Privilege and Confidentiality:
Produced Pursuant to Court Orders in State of Minnesota, et al. v. Philip Morris, et al.

statement of the nature of the action, nor any state-
ment of the damages claimed, but it is believed
thac ~laintiff may be seeking damages £or ailments
claimed to have resulted fro= tobacco use. Regis-
trant's counsel, Chadboucne, Pac~e, Whiteside
wolff, have advised that, in their opinion, on the
basis of their investigatlo~s generally an~ wit~
respect to suits and claims of this character, Regis-
trant has meritorious defenses to the above-mentioned
at:ions. T~e actions will be visorously ~efen~ed
on the
1973
Regis=:an= and other leading tobacco manufac~
tutors have be~n sued by parties seekin~ damages
for cancer and other ailments c!aime~ to have
suited from tobacco use. At Match I, 1979, ~egis-
tran: had disposed of 53 such actions, and the
industry a total Of 109, all without recoveryby
the plaintiffs. Only nine such cases against manu-
facturers have come to trial and each resulted in
a judgment for the defendant or defendants. At
March i, 1979, ~egis=:ant was the defendant in six
pending cases, wherein claimed damages did not exceed
$13,275,000 in the aggregate. In the most recent
case, filed in November 1978, Registrant has been
joined as a de~endant with members of the asbestos
industry and it is alleged that the combination
of smoking and exposure to asSestos produced lung
disease, including cancer. Registran~'s counsel,
Chadbourne, Pa:ke, Whiteside & wolff, have advise~
that, in thei: opinion, on the 5asis of their inves-
tigations generally and with :esCort to suits and
claims of this character, Registrant has meritorious
defenses to the above-mentioned actions. The actions
will be Vigorously defended on the merits.
1979 10-K:
-~ Registrant and other leading tobacco
turers have been sued by parties seeking damages
cancer and other ailments claimed to have resulted
from tobacco use. At March 15, 1980, ~egist:ant
had disposed of 57 such actions, and the
a total of ll~, all without recovery by the plain-
ZSZOO5366
Subject to Claims of Privilege and Confidentiality:
Produced Pursuant to Court Orders In State of Minnesota, et al. v. Philip Morris, et al.

tiffs. Only nine such cases against manufacturers
have come to trio! and each resulted in a judgment
for the defendant or defendants. At Hatch 15, 1980,
Registrant was the defendant tn five pending cases,
wherein claimed damages did not exceed $11,075,000
in the aggregate. In two pending cases, Registrant
has been joined as a defendant with members of the
asbestos indust:~ and it ~s alleged ~ha~ ~he com-
bination o~ s~o~i~g and exposure ~o asbestos
lung d£sease, including cancer. Re~istrant's
Chadbourne, ~a:~e, Whiteside ~ Wolff, have advised
that, in their opin£on, on the basis of the£r [nves-
tigat~ons ~enera~ly and ~th respect to suits and
c~a~s o~ th~s character, ~eg~st:ant has
defenses ~o t~e a~ove-~entioned actions. The
uill be v~oco~s~l de~ended on the
Reg~st:ant and othe= leading tobacco manufac-
turers have been sued by parties seeking damages for
cancer and other ailments claimed to have resulted
from tobacco use. At ~arch 30, 1981, Regist:ant had
disposed of 57 such actions, and the industry a total
of liB, all without recovery by the plaintiffs. Only
nine such cases against manufacturers have come to
trial and each resulted in a judgment for the
or defendants. At Match 30, 19Bl, Registrant was the
de,enfant in six pending cases. In two such cases,
~egistran: has been joined as a defendant with me:be:s
of the asbestos industry and it is alleged that the
combination of smoking and exposure to asbestos pro-
duced lung disease, including cancer. Registrant and
other leading tobacco manufacturers have been n~:ed
as cross-de~endants in Ii cases by one asbestos manu-
facturer, in two cases by another asbestos manufacturer
and in one case by a thir~ asbestos manufacturer, who
have been sue4 for cancer and other ailments claime~
tO have resulted from exposure to asbestos. Each as-
bestos manufacturer seeks an unspecified amount in
Inde...-nity from the thi=d-party defendants for the
amount of the asbestos manufacturer's liability to
plaintiff in excess of its percentage of fault.
~egistrant's counsel, Chadbourne, ~arke, Whiteside
& Wolff, have advised that, in their opinion, the
s~eci~ied damages claimed in pending actions, which
approximate $!!2,585,000 in the aggregate, are exam-
Subject to Claims of Privilege and Confidentiality:
Produced Pursuant to Court Orders in State of Minnesota, et al. v. Philip Morris, et al.

gerated and £nclude a clai~ for $i00,000,000
punitive ~a~a~es wh~c~ ~s ~ossly
~eg~strant's counsel also have adv~se~ that, in
the~ o~nion, on the bas~s of thei~ investigations
~ene~ally and w~th respect to su~ts and claims
~is cha~ac=er, ~eg~s~:ant has ~erltorious defenses
[sic.]
1981 i0-~:
Regis::an~ and ocher leading tobacco manufac-
turers have ~een sued by parties see~ing damages foc
cancer and other a~!~en~s c!a~ed to have resulted
f~c~ tobacco use. A~ ~a:ch I~, 1982, Registrant
had disposed of 59 such actions, a~ the ~ndust~y
a :oral of 120, all without recovery by the plain-
tiffs. Onl'! ~i~e su=h cases a~aLnst manufacturers
have co=e to trial and each ~esulted in a judgmen=
for the defendant or defendants. At Ma~ch 19, 19~2,
Registrant was a defendant or third-party ~efendant
in six pending cases. In one such case, Re, is:rant
has been joined as a defendant with anothe~ tobacco
manufacturer and members of the asbestos industry,
and it is a!~eged that the com~ination of smoking
and exposu=e to asbestos p~oduced lung disease,
including ca:ce~. Regis:rant and other leading
tobacco manufac:urers are named as cross-defendants
in nine cases by one asbestos manufacturer who has
been sued fo~ canoe= and othe= ailments claimed to
have resulted from exposure to asbestos. On May
Ii, 1981, the court severed and ~ismissed without
9~ejudice eight of these nine c~oss-conplaints, as
well as abou: 150 si3ilar cross-complaints agains=
Registrant and others, inc!udin~ the other leading
tobacco manufac:ucecs, which had been filed by
anothe~ asbestos manufacturer but never serve~.
~oth asbestos manufacturers have appealed. Each
asbestos manufacturer seeks an unspecifie~ amount
in indemnity f~oa the third-~arty defendants for
the amount of the asbestos manufacturer's liability
to plaintiff in excess of its percentage of fault.
In 29 comparable third-gaff7 actions, Registrant
an~ the industry have disposed of eight, and the
third-~arty asbestos ~laintiff has moved for dis-
missal without prejudice £n 21, all without ~ecove=y
by the third-~a~ty asbestos plaintiffs. Registrant's
counsel, Chadbcurne, Pa~e, whiteside & Wolff, hav~
Subject to Claims of Privilege and Confidentiality:
Produced Pursuant to Court Orders in State of Minnesota, et al. v. Philip Morris, et al.

claimed ~n pend~n~ actions, which appcoxi~a~e
$119,58S,000 ~n t~e aggregate, ace exag~eca~ed and
~nclude a clai~ foc $100,000,000 £n ~uni=ive damages
which is ~cossly exaggerated. Regist~ant's counsel
also have advised that, in theic opinion, on the
bas~s oF the~ investigations ~ene:ally and with
respect to suits and claims of th~s character,
aegis~r~nt has meritorious defenses to the above-
mentioned at:ions. The actions w~l be v~orous~y
defen~ed on the medics.
Registrant and other lead~n~ tobacco manufac~
ture:s have been sued by parties seeking damages
~o~ cancer and other ailments claimed to have resulted
~rom tobacco use and b~ three asbestos manufacturers
seeking unspecified &mounts ~n Indemnit~ o~ contribu-
tion in thi~d- o: fourth-patty actions against all
~he ma~o: domestic tobacco manufacturers. &~ Ha~ch
1~, 1~83, Registrant had disposed of 103 actions, and
~he industry a tota~ of 1~2, all w~thout recover~
p~aintif~s, gine cases have come to t~ial, all against
manufacturers as direct defendants, and each cesulted
in a jud~men~ for the defendant or defendants. A~
Match 16, 1983, Registrant was a defendan~ in eight
pending cases. $~ one case, Registrant has been
joined as a defendant with another tobacco manufac-
turer and membecs of the asbestos ~ndustEy, and
i~ is a!lege~ that the comoination of smoking and
exposure ~o a~estos produced lung disease, ~ncludi~g
cance~. Re~istEant's counsel, Chadbou~ne, Packe,
Whites~de & Wolff, have advised that, £~ their opinion,
the specif£ed d~ma~es claimed in pend£ng actions,
which app~oxlmate $107,535,000 in the aggregate,
ace exaggerated an~ IncSude a c~a~m for $i00,000,000
in punitive damages which is ~rossl~ exaggerated.
Reg~stran~'s counsel also have advised that, in
their opinion, on the basis of ~heir ~nves~igations
ge~e.rally and with respect to su~ts and claims of
this character, Registrant has meEitorious defenses
co the above-mentioned actions. The actioos w~ll
be vigorously defended on the merits.
282OO5389
Subject to Claims of Privilege and Confidentiality:
Produced Pursuant to Court Orders in State of Minnesota, et al. v. Philip Morris, et al.
