[Intl-tobacco] British American Tobacco Australasia Wins Court Action (fwd)

[Robert Weissman]

British American Tobacco Australasia Wins Court Action
Source: The Wall Street Journal Interactive Edition, Friday, 12/15/00

SYDNEY -- British American Tobacco Australasia Ltd. (A.BAM) said Friday it
has won individual court actions in the Australian Federal Court against
plaintiffs claiming injury as a result of smoking.

"The company denied any liability to the applicants and continues to deny
liability," the company said in a statement.

In March 1999, Slater and Gordon solicitors brought class action
proceedings on behalf of several plaintiffs against the company.

The Federal Court held that these proceedings should not continue as a
class action but gave leave to individuals to proceed individually.

"Neither the company nor any other respondent made payment of any money's
to or on behalf of any applicant," the company said.

The company was formed last year from the merger of WD & HO Wills and
Rothmans Holdings.

URL for this Article:
http://interactive.wsj.com/archive/retrieve.cgi?id=DI-CO-20001215-002142.djml