Legal Filings

FDA Action Needed to Address Diet Coke’s Blatant & Unlawful Use of Heart Health Claims

Feet to the Fire, Food/Beverage Marketing, Legal Filings /

The Public Health Advocacy Institute is asking the FDA to investigate and take enforcement action against The Coca-Cola Company’s unlawful use of heart health claims on cans of Diet Coke.  In February of 2010, 2011 and 2012, The Coca-Cola Company has released Diet Coke cans labeled with a large red heart symbol, the National Heart […]

FDA Action Needed to Address Diet Coke’s Blatant & Unlawful Use of Heart Health Claims Read More »

Federal Judge Blasts RJ Reynolds for Providing a “Wholly Inaccurate Description of the Trial Record” and Upholds Multi-Million Dollar Verdict

Legal Filings, Press release, Tobacco /

For Immediate Release   Contact: Edward L. Sweda, Jr. (617) 373-8462 U.S. District Court Judge Stefan R. Underhill on Friday denied R.J. Reynolds’ motion for a new trial or for judgment as a matter of law in the case of Izzarelli v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. Barbara Izzarelli smoked Salem King cigarettes for 25 years until

Federal Judge Blasts RJ Reynolds for Providing a “Wholly Inaccurate Description of the Trial Record” and Upholds Multi-Million Dollar Verdict Read More »

Minnesota Court Of Appeals gives green light to “light” cigarette class action lawsuit against Philip Morris

1 Comment / Legal Filings, News, Press release, Tobacco /

Class is certified; consumer protection law claims are reinstated since they establish “public benefit;” claims not barred by Minnesota’s 1998 settlement with tobacco companies or by 2009 federal legislation; claims not barred by statute of limitations.

Minnesota Court Of Appeals gives green light to “light” cigarette class action lawsuit against Philip Morris Read More »

Boston jury delivers $81 million punitive damages verdict against Lorillard

Legal Filings, News, Press release, Tobacco /

A Suffolk Country jury, after finding Lorillard liable on December 14, 2010  for the wrongful death of a woman who was given free Newport cigarettes by the company as a child growing up in a Boston public housing project, today issued a punitive damages verdict of $81 million against the maker of Newports. The jury

Boston jury delivers $81 million punitive damages verdict against Lorillard Read More »

PHAI publishes Special Verdict Sheet from Evans trial

Legal Filings, News, Tobacco /

(Please note that the jury was deadlocked on Questions 5 and 6) SUFFOLK, SS. CIVIL ACTION NO. 2004-2840-A WILLIE EVANS, AS EXECUTOR OF THE ESTATE OF MARIE R. EVANS Plaintiff v. LORILLARD TOBACCO COMPANY Defendant SPECIAL JURY VERDICT FORM SECTION 1 -LIABILITY Question 1: NEGLIGENCE (Please answer all three subparts, a through c, of Question

PHAI publishes Special Verdict Sheet from Evans trial Read More »

Florida court of appeal affirms $28.3 million verdict against R.J. Reynolds; explicitly rejects RJR’s attempt to “essentially nullify” Florida Supreme Court’s 2006 decision in Engle

Legal Filings, News, Press release, Tobacco /

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Edward L. Sweda, Jr. or Mark Gottlieb (617) 373-8462 or (617) 373-2026 In a resounding defeat for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., the First District Court of Appeal of Florida affirmed a jury’s award of $5 million in compensatory damages (later reduced by the trial judge to $3.3. million because the jury

Florida court of appeal affirms $28.3 million verdict against R.J. Reynolds; explicitly rejects RJR’s attempt to “essentially nullify” Florida Supreme Court’s 2006 decision in Engle Read More »

All Parties Seek Supreme Court Review of Racketeering Trial: US v. Philip Morris

Legal Filings, News, Tobacco /

Review could open door for substantial remedies that would help smokers to quit protect kids from starting – and could force the cigarette companies to pay hundreds of billions of dollars Today the Solicitor General of the United States filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the Supreme Court of the United States seeking

All Parties Seek Supreme Court Review of Racketeering Trial: US v. Philip Morris Read More »

PHAI submits comments to FDA supporting reducing nicotine levels of smoked tobacco products to non-addictive levels

Legal Filings, Tobacco /

In response to a request for comments, PHAI urges the FDA to prioritize smoked tobacco nicotine reduction as a potentially highly effective tool to mitigate the public health cost of smoking. Please see our complete Comments (pdf).

PHAI submits comments to FDA supporting reducing nicotine levels of smoked tobacco products to non-addictive levels Read More »

PHAI Submits Brief on Behalf of AMA and others to U.S. Court of Appeals for DC Circuit in Tobacco Racketeering Appeal

Legal Filings, Tobacco /

PHAI Amicus Brief on Behalf ot the AMA and others in Appeal of RICO case: Last year, a federal judge found the tobacco industry liable for violating RICO, the federal anti-racketeering statute, in a case filed against the industry by the United States Government. An appeal is pending in the U.S Court of Appeals for

PHAI Submits Brief on Behalf of AMA and others to U.S. Court of Appeals for DC Circuit in Tobacco Racketeering Appeal Read More »