[Intl-tobacco] Australian High Court Rejects Class Action Against BAT Australasia

[Robert Weissman]

High Court Rejects Class Action Against BAT Australasia
by Graham Morgan / Dow Jones Newswires; 61-2-8235-2962
graham.morgan@dowjones.com

AUSTRALIA;
Source: The Wall Street Journal Interactive Edition, Wednesday, 6/21/00

SYDNEY -- British American Tobacco PLC's (BTI) Australasian arm Wednesday
welcomed the High Court of Australia's decision to reject an application
for leave to appeal in a class action against the company.

Law firm Slater & Gordon, acting on behalf of a group of complainants in a
class action against British American Tobacco Australasia, had applied to
the High Court of Australia seeking leave to appeal a decision of the
Federal Court.

The Federal Court recently dismissed the class action.

The High Court of Australia's decision ends the proceedings concerning the
health effects of smoking, which was known as the Nixon class action.

Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Director of British American Tobacco
Brendan Brady said the company will seek to recover court costs.

"Not only has this action taken up substantial court time, but it has also
been an expensive exercise for the named class members who will have to
pay costs," Brady said.

"Those promoting this kind of American-style, speculative litigation
should bear the costs, and I assume they will be prepared to do so on
behalf of their clients," he said.