Proposed Canadian Lawsuit (fwd)

[Robert Weissman <rob@essential.org>]

 Canadian Press
         September 11, 1998 

                Three plan $11.5-billion suit against tobacco
                firms

                MONTREAL (CP) -- Major tobacco firms would have to pay Quebecers
                more than $11.5 billion if a new class-action suit gets to
court and succeeds.

                 Lawyers for three smokers have asked Quebec Superior Court
to hear the
                suit against Imperial Tobacco Ltd., Rothmans Inc. and RJR
MacDonald Inc.

                 The proposed suit is on behalf of 2.3 million Quebecers who
are addicted
                to nicotine. It seeks $5,000 in punitive damages for each
smoker plus
                compensation for specific damages. 
                 Don Brown, president of Imperial Tobacco, said Friday he is
confident the
                request and all its claims will be rejected by the court. 
                 "We intend to defend vigorously the interests of our
company," said Brown,
                who is also chairman and chief executive officer of the
firm, Canada's major
                tobacco manufacturer. 
                 The request to authorize the class-action suit will be
formally presented
                Nov. 4 at the Montreal courthouse. 
                 The three smokers behind the suit -- Christine Fortin and
Joseph Mandelan,
                both of Montreal, and Celia Letourneau of Rimouski, Que. --
say cigarette
                manufacturers have known for decades their products are
harmful. 
                 Fortin, who began smoking in 1977 at age 16, says she
thought it would
                help her stay thin. Fortin says she didn't anticipate her
health problems
                including bronchitis and pleurisy.