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Loading...Supreme Court Declines Case: Big Tobacco Scores Big
The U.S. Supreme Court this week declined to hear appeals from both sides in the federal government’s racketeering lawsuit against the tobacco industry (The United States v. Philip Morris USA, Inc.)
The decision is a victory in that it upholds the trial court’s verdict that cigarette manufacturers violated federal racketeering laws, willfully deceiving the American public about the dangers of its products.
The same decision also ends the federal government’s quest to fine Big Tobacco to the tune of $280 billion in profits and $10 billion for smoking-cessation programs.
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), tobacco is the most preventable cause of death in the U.S., responsible for 30 percent of all cancer deaths and 87 percent of all lung cancer deaths.
Chief Executive Officer of the ACS and its advocacy affiliate, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), John R. Seffrin, issued this statement:
“The U.S. Supreme Court made a clear statement: Big Tobacco is guilty of knowingly and willingly deceiving the American public about the hazards of its products and engaging in egregious practices, including fraud.
“Big Tobacco has thrived for decades on the business of addiction by marketing to children and misleading adults about the harms of its deadly products, which kill nearly 440,000 people in America each year. While we are disappointed that the tobacco industry will not be forced to pay for the full damages associated with their conduct, we remain confident that progress can be made. As public health interveners in the case, we will work to ensure that the remedies ordered by Judge Kessler are fully implemented.
“It is time for Big Tobacco to finally be held accountable for its deplorable actions.”
No need for Big Tobacco to take the news so hard. Its already battered reputation took another hit, but investors don’t seem to mind. Just just after the news, WSJ Market Beat reported:
“Tobacco companies are leading the consumer staples sector higher. Reynolds American gained 5.2 percent, Altria Group rose 3.5 percent, and Lorillard gained 3.3 percent after the high court refused to revisit a case that found the tobacco industry violated federal racketeering laws, putting an end to the government’s effort to force billions in payments from the industry.”
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Read more: american cancer society, big tobacco, federal government, health policy, healthcaretmc, smoking, Supreme Court
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+ add your ownIs it true that our tax dollars go to subsidizing the tobacco industry? I believe it is time to inform the people that lung cancer is not the only cancer that smoking affects! These carcinogens go directly into the pancreas, brain, colon, digestive organs, everywhere!
Nobody is holding a gun to smokers' heads, but the industry does actively attempt to create a growing market: witness the "Joe Camel" ads targeted towards young people. If the ads had not been effective, it would not have required legislation to stop them.
People know that cigaretts are bad and will probably kill them, but they smoke them anyway. It's their choice.
Do you know that most of us are addicted to
1. Smoking
2. Pomography
3. Sex
4. Drugs
5. Alchol
6. Gambling
7. Back biting
8. hypocrisy
9. Lying , cheating and deceiving
and much much more.
The matter of fact is that we are all attracted towards things that have a bad impact on our health and our spirituality. There are a lot of products that have an addictive impact upon us and its not only smoking but it is also about consuming hard and soft drinks. It is also about havin sex outside marriage, consuming loads of alcohol and addiction to habits and substances that have a bad impact upon health and society.
sorry case.
I guess I really don't understand why we try to make an industry wrong when that industry would not BE there if the customers weren't. Again, we are attacking the wrong end of the problem...get to the heart of the matter and quit putting a bandage on a "broken leg" to solve the problem.
Money is power, simple as that.
If people a stupid enough to smoke they deserve the consequences.Smoking kills.If a peson who smokes would spend one day with me in my employment I guarantee that with what I encounter ie horrific situations and people dying they would never smoke again
That’s right blaming others. Smokers don’t have any of the blame for smoking, it is all the fault of the tobacco companies, and they forced people to smoke at gun point.
TY Albert Paul S., I'll 2nd your comment in lieu of posting what would be a repeat of it.
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