WASHINGTON, D.C. July 21, 2014 Following is a statement from Chris Hansen, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), in reaction to a Florida jury award of $23 billion in punitive damages to widow Cynthia Robinson in her lawsuit against R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. Neither the American Cancer Society nor ACS CAN, its advocacy affiliate, were directly involved in this case.
The judgment in favor of widow Cynthia Robinson demonstrates that the jurors, much like the public itself, did not think the tobacco industry has paid its share for its unconscionable record of public deception, fraud and predatory marketing that has resulted in massive loss of life.
For decades, the tobacco industry lied to the public about the numerous health hazards caused by its deadly products as it spent billions marketing them to children and adults alike. In the 50 years since the first Surgeon General 's Report on Smoking and Health, tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke claimed the lives of more than 20 million Americans, and they continue to cost our economy almost $300 billion in health care costs and lost productivity annually. The American people have paid for the devastating impact of tobacco use it 's time for the industry to do the same.
In 2006, a federal judge convicted the tobacco companies of racketeering for the acts of fraud and deception that led to the giant health and economic toll their products have taken on our country. The American Cancer Society was a public health intervenor in the Department of Justice lawsuit that led to this verdict. Additionally, the Society and ACS CAN strongly support the rights of individual plaintiffs and those involved in class actions to recover punitive and compensatory damages from the tobacco industry.
The tobacco industry will undoubtedly appeal the award to Cynthia Robinson, but regardless of the final outcome it is the duty of the courts and elected officials at all levels of government to hold the industry accountable for the unspeakable pain and incalculable loss it has inflicted upon society.
ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visitæwww.fightcancer.org.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Lauren Walens or Steven Weiss
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
Phone: (202) 661-5763 or (202) 661-5711
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
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