[Intl-tobacco] Spanish Cancer Patients Sue Tobacco Makers, Europa Press Says

[Robert Weissman]

Spanish Cancer Patients Sue Tobacco Makers, Europa Press Says
by Thomas Mulier
Source: Bloomberg News, Wednesday, 1/3/01

 Madrid, Jan. 3 (Bloomberg) -- Altadis SA, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Holdings
Inc.  and Philip Morris Cos. are among several cigarette makers and
distributors who face class-action lawsuits being filed today by Spanish
smokers who had their voice boxes removed because of throat cancer, Europa
Press reported.

More than 4,000 people who had surgery on their voice boxes are filing
suits in several cities across Spain seeking 4 billion pesetas ($22.9
million) in damages, the news agency said, citing Montserrat Vega, an
attorney representing the Asociacion Nacional de Laringectomizados, an
association for people who've had all or part of their vocal cords
removed.

The former smokers are suing the companies after failing to reach an
agreement through negotiations. They had been in talks with Cita Tabacos
de Canarias, British American Tobacco Plc and Compania de Distribucion
Integral Logista SA in addition to Altadis, R.J. Reynolds and Philip
Morris, Europa Press said