PROVINCE SUES TOBACCO COMPANIES

From: Subject: PROVINCE SUES TOBACCO COMPANIES Date: Fri, 27 Jul 2007 12:34:11 -0400 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/archive/pre2001/1998/206.asp X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3138 PROVINCE SUES TOBACCO COMPANIES These are = historic documents=20 for informational purposes only, and do not necessarily reflect the = policies and=20 priorities of the government of the day.

NEWS RELEASE

1998:206

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 12, 1998

MINISTRY OF HEALTH =

PROVINCE SUES TOBACCO = COMPANIES
VANCOUVER - A=20 precedent-setting lawsuit to recover tobacco-related health costs from = three=20 principal tobacco companies and their multi-national affiliates was = filed=20 today by Attorney General Ujjal Dosanjh and Health Minister Penny = Priddy in=20 the province's toughest anti-tobacco action to date.=20
"The government alleges that the tobacco companies knew of the = addictive=20 nature and dangerous health effects of tobacco use and that they = conspired to=20 conceal the risks of smoking from consumers," said Dosanjh.=20
"We allege that the business practices of the tobacco industry are=20 unconscionable," said Dosanjh. "Tobacco companies should be held = accountable=20 for the devastating effects of their harmful products."=20
"Our ultimate goal is to protect B.C. children from becoming = addicted to=20 the tobacco industry's deadly products," said Priddy.=20
Priddy said the evidence will show that actions of the big tobacco=20 companies have had deadly health consequences for the people of = British=20 Columbia.=20
"For years B.C. taxpayers have been shouldering the health care = costs of=20 illnesses caused by tobacco," said Priddy. "It's time that burden was = lifted=20 and placed squarely where it belongs - on the tobacco companies."
The government of British Columbia is suing the three principal = Canadian=20 manufacturers of cigarettes in Canada and British Columbia: Imperial = Tobacco=20 Limited; Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc.; and RJR-Macdonald Inc. = The=20 province is also suing the parents of the Canadian companies and their = U.S.-affiliated companies whose products were sold in British = Columbia.=20
The province is seeking to recover costs incurred, or that will be=20 incurred, by the province to deliver tobacco-related health care.=20 Specifically, the province will argue that the tobacco companies:=20

have known for many years that cigarettes are addictive and can = cause a=20 variety of diseases and even death;

failed to warn consumers of the dangers of smoking;

targeted children in their advertising and marketing;

conspired to suppress research into the risks of smoking and = conspired=20 to invalidate the public warnings on the risks of smoking; and

are responsible for health care costs associated with smoking.=20
The lawsuit will be handled by the province's legal team = headed by=20 Thomas Berger, QC, and by Daniel Webster, QC, Elliot Myers and Don = Holubitsky=20 of the Vancouver-based law firm Bull, Housser and Tupper.=20
The Tobacco Damages and Health Care Recovery Act assists government = and=20 individuals in British Columbia in making the tobacco industry pay for = the=20 harmful effects of its products.=20

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