Israeli suit

[Robert Weissman <rob@essential.org>]

>From the Advocacy Institute's news summaries:

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Israeli Health Insurer Sues US And Israeli Tobacco Companies

Israel's largest health insurer filed a $2 billion lawsuit
against US and Israeli tobacco manufacturers on Monday in what
it said was the first lawsuit of its kind to be filed outside
the United States.  The lawsuit claims that tobacco companies
withheld evidence about the dangers of smoking, used
intentionally misleading advertising, and manipulated nicotine
levels to encourage addiction. In addition to the $2 billion
for past damages, the health insurer is seeking an undisclosed
amount of punitive and future damages. However, according to
Amos Hausner, the lawyer for the health insurer Kupat Hokim
Clalit, "The health fund is not only interested in monetary gain
but also in the educational factor so that fewer people will
smoke in the future."  Kupat Hokim Clalit insures about 70
percent of Israel's six million people and health officials
estimate that 6,000 Israelis die annually from smoking-related
illnesses.

Source(s):
REUTERS, (9/29/98)
   "Israeli Health Fund Sues US Tobacco Companies", Aimee Rhodes
WALL STREET JOURNAL, (9/29/98)
   "Israeli Health Insurer Sues Cigarette Manufacturers", Associated Press,
p. B10

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