Talon Posted September 22, 2004 #1 Share Posted September 22, 2004 Tobacco firms deny public misled American cigarette companies have been honest in highlighting the serious risks of smoking, a lawyer for the tobacco industry has told a US court. In a government lawsuit, tobacco firms are accused of lying about the effects of smoking over a 50-year period. But a lawyer for Philip Morris said: "It's an unambiguous and clear message that we sell a dangerous product." The $280bn (£156bn) lawsuit - filed by the Clinton administration in 1999 - is expected to last six months. Presenting the industry's opening statements, lawyer Ted Wells said the conduct of some tobacco industry officials over the years may have been "regrettable". But he said changes in how tobacco companies now market their products would help dismiss claims that they misled the public. 'Massive fraud' Prosecutors want the cigarette firms to surrender $280bn in profits accumulated over the past 50 years and impose tougher rules on marketing their products. In its lawsuit, the government claims tobacco firms manipulated nicotine levels to increase addiction, targeted teenagers with multi-billion dollar advertising campaigns, lied about the dangers of smoking and ignored research about its impact on health. A 1953 meeting in New York attended by executives from the country's top five cigarette makers resulted in a "massive 50-year scheme to defraud the public", the lawsuit claims. The defendants include Philip Morris US, Reynolds American Inc, Lorillard Tobacco, the Leggett Group and Brown and Williamson, a US subsidiary of British American Tobacco. The firms, which deny any wrongdoing, have been indicted under legislation drawn up to counteract Mafia infiltration of business. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3681438.stm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fluffybunny Posted September 22, 2004 #2 Share Posted September 22, 2004 Imagine the next staement in the most sarcastic tone you could possibloy imagine: Yeah, right...sure we beleive that.... Hopefully they can get a few of the many billions of dollars back that the government has had to pay out to take care of all of the uninsured or underinsured people who have come down with cancer, emphasyma, heart disease...whatever else the stuff causes... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seraphina Posted September 23, 2004 #3 Share Posted September 23, 2004 Spot the companies that are gonna be going out of business Good ridance too....can't say I'm gonna shed any tears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babs Posted September 23, 2004 #4 Share Posted September 23, 2004 Money! money! money!...that's what they want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Independent1 Posted September 23, 2004 #5 Share Posted September 23, 2004 Money! money! money!...that's what they want. 276353[/snapback] Here is one: Gun makers deny that their products can have lethal effects if misused. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talon Posted September 23, 2004 Author #6 Share Posted September 23, 2004 Gun makers deny that their products can have lethal effects if misused. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AztecInca Posted September 23, 2004 #7 Share Posted September 23, 2004 Money , money , money, we live in a money and powr obsessed world, its sad really, these companies have profited of prosucts that have caused so much illness and sorrow! Although nowadays, the risks and potential heath problems are out in the open for everyone to know, there is no excuse now, its there own faults if the start smoking now and become ill! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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