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- First tobacco suits were filed in the 1950sSlate: A Tobacco Lawsuit Primer (April 25, 2000)
- Most failed until 2000Slate: A Tobacco Lawsuit Primer (April 25, 2000)
- First successful case in California: $51.5 million from Philip Morris
- First class action lawsuits passed in April 2000Slate: A Tobacco Lawsuit Primer (April 25, 2000)
- In September 2006, a class-action lawsuit sought $200 billion for smokers of "low-tar" cigarettesTimes Online: Tobacco firms face $200bn lawsuit (September 25, 2006)
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Tobacco lawsuits are brought by citizens who believe that tobacco companies knew about the health risk of smoking and failed to warn smokers about the dangers and addictiveness of cigarettes. Such lawsuits have been carried out since the 1950s, and began to succeed in the courts in 2000.Slate: A Tobacco Lawsuit Primer (April 25, 2000)
On December 15, 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that plaintiffs can sue over the tobacco company marketing of so-called "light" cigarettes, and that federal laws covering tobacco advertising do not preempt states from suing tobacco companies.Bloomberg: 'Light' Cigarette Suits Allowed by U.S. Supreme Court (Update4) (December 15, 2008)
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Tobacco Lawsuit History
The first tobacco lawsuits were filed in the 1950s, but almost always failed. The tobacco companies argued that the harmful effects of smoking had been recognized for decades; people choose to smoke and so are personally responsible if they suffer ill effects.Slate: A Tobacco Lawsuit Primer (April 25, 2000)In the late 1990s, plaintiffs began introducing scientific documentation of the chemical dependency generated by smoking—and proof that the tobacco companies were well aware of its addictive properties.Slate: A Tobacco Lawsuit Primer (April 25, 2000) The first successful tobacco lawsuit was awarded in February 2000, when a California jury ordered Philip Morris to pay $51.5 million to a California smoker with inoperable lung cancer.Slate: A Tobacco Lawsuit Primer (April 25, 2000)
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Altria Group v. Good
The most recent case, called Altria Group v. Good, argues that Philip Morris (now owned by Altria Group) marketed low tar and low nicotine cigarettes as less harmful than regular brands. Litigants argued that smokers compensate for "light" cigarettes by taking longer puffs and smoking more cigarettes.Washington Post: Court Rules in Favor of Smokers Who Seek to Sue Big Tobacco (December 15, 2008)The lawsuit cited internal Philip Morris documents that proved that they were aware of the fact that smokers compensated in this manner. The lawsuit won under Maine state law, but Philip Morris appealed, arguing that federal law regulating advertising precludes state law.Washington Post: Court Rules in Favor of Smokers Who Seek to Sue Big Tobacco (December 15, 2008)
The U.S. Supreme Court split 5-4, deciding that in this case, national law does not preempt state law.Washington Post: Court Rules in Favor of Smokers Who Seek to Sue Big Tobacco (December 15, 2008)
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Tobacco Lawsuits Questions
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Should the U.S. military ban tobacco use? 5 AnswersThis is crazy. If they want to use tobacco products, let them. Which is a bigger health concern, being shot at or smoking a cigarette. read more -
Strict regulations for tobacco but why not alcohol and fast food? 3 AnswersIn my humble opinion, there should be. There are far too many fatal health risks associated with all three that all should be strongly regulated. By now, we sho... read more -
What are the best lawsuit funding services? 3 AnswersIt's difficult to get funding for a garden variety lawsuit. Many lawsuits filed in small claims court are cheap and you won't need a lawyer for them, but I ima... read more
view more questions...
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Tobacco Lawsuits Central Figures
- Phillip Morris
- Philip Morris International
- Philip Morris: Health Issues
- British American Tobacco
- British American Tobacco
- Wikipedia: British American Tobacco
- SourceWatch: British American Tobacco
- Phillip Morris
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If we sue tobacco companies that hurt our health why do we let #polluting industries like oil and cars off the hook?Get the lawsuits rolling
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Currently there are lawsuits in the USA to hold tobacco companies responsible for the effects of smoking on the health of long term smokers
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