Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


4

Cigarette Companies Lied, Appeals Court Rules

Share

(Newser) – Tobacco companies engaged in “deceits” and knowingly marketed cigarettes without regard for consumers’ health, violating civil racketeering laws, a federal appeals court ruled today. In upholding the verdict in a landmark case brought by the Clinton Justice Department in 1999, the court refused to overturn a district judge’s order that the companies, including Altria and Philip Morris, stop using such marketing terms as “low tar” and “light,” the Washington Post reports.

American tobacco companies lied to consumers about the dangerousness of their products, which constitutes racketeering, a federal appeals court ruled today.
American tobacco companies lied to consumers about the dangerousness of their products, which constitutes racketeering, a federal appeals court ruled today.   (©cesarastudillo)
Michael E. Szymanczyk, CEO of Altria Group Inc., speaks to shareholders at the company's annual meeting in Richmond, Va., on Tuesday.
Michael E. Szymanczyk, CEO of Altria Group Inc., speaks to shareholders at the company's annual meeting in Richmond, Va., on Tuesday.   (AP Photo)
The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia today upheld a lower-court judge's ruling that American tobacco companies engaged in racketeering.
The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia today upheld a lower-court judge's ruling that American tobacco companies engaged in racketeering.   (©bionicteaching)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.6.09
Galleon Scandal: Shocked, Shocked by Insider Trading
11.5.09
Rupert Murdoch Is Mad but Cute
4 comments
VIEWING:
 
Observer
May 22, 09 3:36 PM CDT
That's real news. The Smokes Companies lied to the every smoker in the world. Lower Tar, soundes good. Milder!, Ahh take a deeper puff. Less cyanide- Perfect! Smoking does not cause cancer (in everyone). Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
Newser001
May 22, 09 5:30 PM CDT
They're liable, period. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+1
Robert_Dada
May 22, 09 6:56 PM CDT
No...Really? They lied? I'm shocked. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+2
IN RESPONSE:
SPH
May 23, 09 4:25 PM CDT
Please stop your ridiculous self-promotion on this site...
Vote up! Vote down!
0
LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

16 Stories

(Newser) - Australians may be coughing up $20 for a pack of cigarettes if officials approve a new anti-smoking plan, the Age reports. The proposal, designed to cut Aussie smoking by a third, would ban all tobacco sponsorship and online sales, devote 95% of cigarette packaging to graphic health warnings, and tax... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Australia • smoking • cigarettes • tobacco • Philip Morris • tobacco companies • cigarette tax

OPINION

Tobacco Bill's Winners: Philip Morris, Lawyers

We're smoking less because it's dumb, not because of policy: Will

Jun 18, 09 7:55 AM CDT
(Newser) - President Obama might have praised Congress' tobacco bill, but for George F. Will, the new legislation gives just two muscular groups reason to celebrate: Philip Morris and "the Democratic Party's fountain of funds, the trial bar." New restrictions on cigarette advertising will help Philip Morris vault over competitors,... More »

MORE ABOUT:
smoking • tobacco • Philip Morris • tobacco companies • cigarette tax • trial lawyers • cigarette

(AP) - Congress struck the US government's strongest anti-smoking blow in decades today with a Senate vote to give regulators new power to limit nicotine in cigarettes, drastically curtail ads, and ban candied tobacco products aimed at young people. Cigarette foes say the changes could cut into the 400,000 deaths every... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Congress • FDA • cigarettes • tobacco • public health • regulation • Big Tobacco

Big Tobacco Suffers Big Setbacks in DC

Despite massive lobbying, regulation looks likely to pass

Apr 14, 09 10:23 AM CDT
(Newser) - After years of winning its fights in Washington, Big Tobacco is steeling itself for a major defeat: Not only did Congress pass an excise tax hike of 62 cents a pack of cigarettes, which went into effect this week, but the House voted overwhelmingly to submit the industry to FDA... More »

MORE ABOUT:
FDA • North Carolina • Virginia • Phillip Morris • Altria • tobacco companies • cigarette tax • Big Tobacco

Florida Jury Awards $8M
to Smoker's Family

Philip Morris vows to appeal verdict

Feb 18, 09 5:18 PM CST
(Newser) - Philip Morris must pay $8 million to the widow and son of a 55-year-old lung cancer victim, a Florida jury says. Jurors in the closely watched case decided that the cigarette maker hid the health risks and addictive qualities of cigarettes, the Miami Herald reports. Stuart Hess smoked about two... More »

MORE ABOUT:
smoking • tobacco • Philip Morris • civil lawsuits • tobacco companies • cigarette

16 Stories


Crime & Courts  •  Business  •  Science & Health 
TwitterFollow @NewserCrime on Twitter

 
crime • cigarettes • tobacco • racketeering • Altria • Philip Morris • federal • tobacco companies • cigarette • Big Tobacco

from our news partners