Profanity, Tobacco Cases Top Court's New Term

Judges to decide on consumers' right to sue drug, tobacco companies

By Ambreen Ali, Newser User

Posted Oct 6, 2008 8:07 AM CDT

(Newser) – The Supreme Court and its Bush-era conservative additions launch a second term today, set to consider "pre-emption" cases that determine whether federal regulation makes drug and tobacco companies immune from state-level lawsuits. Other cases will determine penalties against profanity on radio or TV, a major sexual harassment question, and whether religious groups can erect public monuments, reports NPR.

Business gained major victories in the last term. Now, a drug company is claiming immunity in a lawsuit for an incomplete warning label because it says the FDA—which sides with the firm—had already approved the label. Tobacco companies similarly argue they can’t be sued for false ads that say light cigarettes are safer than regulars because that promotion was federally approved.

Light cigarettes falsely claim they are less dangerous than regular ones, but the promotion was federally approved. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Wyeth drug company is defending itself against a lawsuit for failing to warn patients about a drug's side effects. (AP Photo/Daniel Hulshizer, File)

This is the court's second term with the recent Bush appointments. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

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Profanity, Tobacco Cases Top Court's New Term

Judges to decide on consumers' right to sue drug, tobacco companies

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drug companies • consumer protection • immunity • Wyeth • tobacco companies • US Supreme Court • federal cases

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Pharma Ghostwriters Penned Medical Papers on HRT

Drug firms may play bigger role than thought in medical lit

Supreme Court: Suspects Must Go Before Judge Within 6 Hours

Or confessions will be thrown out of fed court

Justices Reject Limits on Drug Lawsuits

Ruling makes pharma responsible for labels

Pfizer in Talks to Buy Wyeth

Sources say drug maker plans $60B acquisition of rival Wyeth

In Court, Philip Morris Uses Civil-Rights Smokescreen

Tobacco giant plays civil-rights card in battle with Oregon court over $79M judgment

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Profanity, Tobacco Cases Top Court's New Term

Judges to decide on consumers' right to sue drug, tobacco companies

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

drug companies • consumer protection • immunity • Wyeth • tobacco companies • US Supreme Court • federal cases

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Pharma Ghostwriters Penned Medical Papers on HRT

Drug firms may play bigger role than thought in medical lit

Supreme Court: Suspects Must Go Before Judge Within 6 Hours

Or confessions will be thrown out of fed court

Justices Reject Limits on Drug Lawsuits

Ruling makes pharma responsible for labels

Pfizer in Talks to Buy Wyeth

Sources say drug maker plans $60B acquisition of rival Wyeth

In Court, Philip Morris Uses Civil-Rights Smokescreen

Tobacco giant plays civil-rights card in battle with Oregon court over $79M judgment

About Us

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Newser By Users

Community

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What is Newser?