[Intl-tobacco] Leading Saudi hospital files anti-tobacco suit

[Robert Weissman]

Leading Saudi hospital files anti-tobacco suit

by Fahd al-Frayyan
SAUDI ARABIA;
Source: Reuters, 2001-12-03RIYADH, Dec 3 (Reuters) - A top Saudi
hospital said it filed a local lawsuit on Monday against 10
international tobacco firms to seek at least $10 billion in
compensation for treating lung disease, and it also plans to file in
U.S. and Swiss courts.

Officials at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre
told reporters the lawsuit was filed at a Riyadh court against the
firms and their local agents.

The companies listed in a statement by the hospital included Phillip
Morris (NYSE:MO); British American Tobacco (BAT)  and four others.

``The hospital is seeking $10 billion compensation because in the 25
years since it was set up, it had to go out of its way to treat
diseases caused by smoking,'' Ahmed al-Tuwaijri, the hospital's
lawyer, sat at a news conference in the capital.

Tuwaijri said the hospital was also asking for 10 billion riyals
($2.7 billion) for the actual cost of treatment.

The hospital said in a statement it was filing the lawsuit after
negotiations on an out-of-court settlement were postponed
indefinitely by the companies earlier this year.

``In light of all of this, King Faisal Specialist Hospital has
decided to stop postponing the filing of its cases against the
tobacco firms and...has appeared before the highest legal court in
Riyadh to demand compensation,'' the statement said.

Tuwaijri said the hospital would also hire firms in the United
States and Switzerland to present its case there.

Earlier this year, the hospital said it had filed a lawsuit in U.S.
courts against the firms, but hospital representatives later said
they would meet with the firms in Geneva in July to discuss the
possibility of an out-of-court settlement.

Tobacco giants admitted at United Nations hearings on an
anti-smoking treaty in Geneva last year that smoking cigarettes was
dangerous and addictive, but defended their right to sell and
advertise them freely.

After the denying health risks associated with smoking for many
years, beleaguered tobacco companies have been stung into action by
U.S. lawsuits from injured smokers, class-action cases and
government-backed suits by dozens of states seeking to win back
taxpayer money spent caring for sick and dying smokers.

Saudi Arabia is the world's fourth-largest tobacco importer.

According to official statistics, 40 percent of males in the kingdom
are smokers, 10 percent of women, and 25 percent of children under
18 years. Lung cancer is the fourth most common cancer in Saudi
Arabia.

Gulf Arab states have raised customs duties on tobacco from 30
percent in the 1980s to 100 percent in 2000 to curb tobacco
consumption and boost revenues.

($1 equals 3.75 riyals)