How You Can Help Hold Big Tobacco Accountable
Nearly 20 years ago, a U.S. Federal District judge found that the major cigarette manufacturers violated civil racketeering laws for deliberately defrauding the public.
News
Historic Court Victory Against Big Tobacco
November 16, 2017
For decades, Big Tobacco lied to the American people.
They claimed that secondhand smoke is safe, that it is easy to quit smoking and that low-tar cigarettes are less harmful - despite their own internal documents stating otherwise.
Finally, after 17 years of lawsuits and negotiations, Big Tobacco is being forced to tell the truth.
In 1999, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Big Tobacco arguing that tobacco companies deceived consumers. Six years later, the American Cancer Society and other plaintiffs joined the case.
In 2006, Judge Gladys Kessler ruled in our favor, saying tobacco companies defrauded American consumers by lying about the health effects of smoking and marketing their deadly products to children.
This was a huge win not only for our organization, but for all Americans who had been deceived by Big Tobacco’s scrupulous claims.
Judge Kessler's ruling said the tobacco companies must buy television and newspaper ads correcting the false statements they madeAs to be expected, lawyers for tobacco companies spent the next 11 years dragging out the proceedings and trying to weaken the statements they were being required to make.
Finally, the truth is coming out. On November 24th, the first ads will begin running in major newspapers nationwide and will soon be followed by television ads on major networks.
Still to come, tobacco companies will have to put notices on packages of cigarettes and statements on their own websites admitting they had previously lied.
The facts are clear. Tobacco companies deceived Americans about the danger of their products. Cigarettes are deadly and smoking accounts for about 30% of all cancer deaths in the United States. That is the truth. And starting November 24, the truth will finally be told by the tobacco companies who perpetuated this fraud of the American people.
Related Updates