[Intl-tobacco] French court throws out case against cigarette manufacturers

[Robert Weissman]

French court throws out case against cigarette
 manufacturers
Mon Sep 29, 9:05 AM ET

SAINT-NAZAIRE, France (AFP) - A French court threw out a case brought by
a regional
health fund which was seeking reparations from four international
cigarette manufacturers
for the cost of treating cancer patients.

In the first case of its kind in France, the state insurance
fund (CPAM) in the western city of Saint-Nazaire was
demanding 18.6 million euros (21.2 million dollars) from
BAT-Rothmans, Philip Morris, JTI-Reynolds and Altadis.

The CPAM also wanted the companies to provide clearer
labelling about health risks, pay for cancer detection
facilities and offer free treatment for smokers trying to give
up.

The court dismissed the case on a technicality, ruling that
the fund did not have the right to launch the suit.

"This is a heavy defeat. The regional funds are reduced to dirty
pay-masters -- managing
the consequences of smoking without being able to make the industry
responsible ... The
fight against cancer has received a terrible blow," said Francis
Caballero, the CPAM's
lawyer.

In recent years the tobacco industry has been hit by numerous
multi-billion dollar awards --
especially in the United States -- brought by ill smokers.