[Intl-tobacco] Danish smoker sues tobacco company

[Robert Weissman]

Danish smoker sues tobacco company

by CNN Denmark
DENMARK;
Source: CNN, Thursday, 10/19/00
COPENHAGEN, Denmark -- A 53-year-old man from Denmark is suing
Scandinavia's
biggest tobacco company on charges that it failed to warn him about the
dangers
of smoking.

The man has been smoking cigarettes made by the Danish Scandinavian
Tobacco
Company -- which operates in more than 15 countries -- for nearly 35
years.

Speaking on behalf of his client, lawyer Anker Laden-Andersen said the
plaintiff had failed to kick the habit even though he tried everything
possible
to quit smoking, including nicotine patches, hypnosis and other
therapies.

"We want to know, what has been added to the tobacco, and if any hidden
substances have been added to get smokers addicted," the lawyer said.

The man and Laden-Andersen have also called for the state to formally
begin
legal proceedings against the tobacco company.

It is not known whether the man is suffering from any smoking-related
illnesses.

In a similar court case in Norway, Scandinavian Tobacco Company is being
sued
by a man who has been smoking for over 50 years and now suffers from
cancer.
The man says the tobacco company failed to warn customers about the
dangers of
smoking.

Scandinavian Tobacco Company has expressed confidence that it will be
acquitted
in both cases.