[Intl-tobacco] Ontario Sues Group Of Tobacco Companies (fwd)

[Robert Weissman]

Ontario Sues Group Of Tobacco Companies
Source: Reuters, Thursday, 3/2/00

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Government of Ontario filed a
racketeering suit against an international group of major
tobacco companies to recoup tobacco-related health care costs,
according to court papers made public Thursday.

The civil suit, filed late Wednesday in Manhattan federal
court, alleged the companies were members of an international
tobacco industry conspiracy and constitute a substantial portion
of the international tobacco industry. The suit alleged the goal
of the conspiracy was to, ``ensure a market for their hazardous
products -- cigarettes.''

It alleged the conspiracy was led by U.S. tobacco companies
working in large part through their lawyers and the scheme
operated in the United States, Canada, Germany, Britain and
Switzerland.

The suit was brought on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen in
Right of Ontario through the Minister of Health and Long Term
Care.

Among the long list of defendants in the case are: Imperial
Tobacco Plc, British American Tobacco, Philip Morris Cos Inc. ,
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Holdings Inc. (NYSE:RJR - news), Japan Tobacco Inc. , Brooke
Group Ltd Lorillard Tobacco Co., Loews Corp. (NYSE:LTR - news), the Canadian
Tobacco Manufacturers Council and the Council for Tobacco
Research.

The suit alleged the defendants hid and manipulated
information about the hazards of smoking and the addictive
nature of nicotine.

It alleges a conspiracy, ``of such scope and duration that
it is truly unique in the annals of American jurisprudence. It
constituted a scheme to defraud and cheat that lasted almost
half a century and spread its shadow over North America and
Europe.

``The conduct of the defendants was inconsistent with moral
uprightness, fundamental honesty, fair play and right dealing to
the general and business life of members of society.''