Smoker Files 1st German Suit vs Tobacco Companies, AFP Reports (fwd)

[Robert Weissman <rob@essential.org>]

Smoker Files 1st German Suit vs Tobacco Companies, AFP Reports

Hagen, Germany, July 13 (Bloomberg) -- A German smoker is suing Philip
Morris Cos., the largest U.S. tobacco company, and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco
Holdings Co. for 50,000 euros ($50,885) in damages after he developed
cancer, Agence France-Presse reported, citing Burkhard Oexmann, the
unidentified plaintiff's lawyer. The lawsuit is the first of its kind in
Germany and follows several such cases in the U.S., AFP said. The
plaintiff alleges Philip Morris knew of the effects of tobacco as of 1983
while publicly denying them; Oexmann said he's also ready to file lawsuits
on behalf of two insurance companies, AFP said.

R.J. Reynolds and British American Tobacco Plc were cleared of blame for a
Louisiana smoker's cancer on July 9, two days after a Miami jury decided
U.S. tobacco companies were responsible for the death and disease of
smokers and must face damages claims. (AFP 7/13 www.afp.com)