OTHER NEWS - May 25, 1994

Tobacco Industry Sued for Medical Costs to State: Mississippi filed the lawsuit in a state court, claiming cigarette makers owe its taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars for the expense of treating tobacco-related illnesses. R.J. Reynolds, Philip Morris and other manufacturers are among the 13 defendants, along with the Washington-based Tobacco Institute lobby, the Council for Tobacco Research, and wholesalers and distributors. The suit also seeks an injunction against selling tobacco to minors. Attorney Edward Sweda of Northeastern University’s Tobacco Products Liability Project in Boston said the suit marks a new approach to tobacco litigation and could lead to similar actions elsewhere. A spokeswoman for R.J. Reynolds said, “This is an unprecedented ploy for suing tobacco companies, but beyond that, it really changes nothing.”