Guatemala tobacco suit in U.S. court

[Robert Weissman <rob@essential.org>]

Guatemala filed suit on Tuesday, May 12 in U.S. District Court against
Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation, Philip Morris Companies, the
Liggett Group, The Tobacco Institute, the Council for Tobacco
Research-U.S.A., B.A.T. Industries, British American Tobacco Co., and
Batus Holdings.

Two of these defendants control most of the Guatemalan cigarette market:
Philip Morris with more than 70 percent of the market share through its
wholly-owned subsidiary Tabacalera Centroamericana, S.A., and British
American Tobacco Co. – the parent company of Louisville, Ky.-based Brown &
Williamson Tobacco Corporation -- with more than 20 percent market share
through its wholly-owned subsidiary Tabacalera Nacional, S.A. 

The lawsuit alleges a conspiracy to conceal information about the health
risks of smoking. It also alleges a claim under the RICO Act, which
authorized treble damage awards.

``As recently as 1991, these defendants sponsored a seminar in Guatemala
City entitled `The Truth About Tobacco,''' attorney George Fleming was
quoted as saying in a news release. ``Far from the truth, this seminar
presented industry-paid experts who claimed there is insufficient evidence
that tobacco causes lung cancer and that the use of tobacco products has
not been shown to cause substantial health damage.

Representing Guatemala is the law firm of Fleming, Hovenkamp & Grayson,
P.C.

Contact: 
     Fleming, Hovenkamp & Grayson, P.C.
     D'Lisa Simmons, 800/654-7139
     http://www.fhg-law.com/