Secret Documents Showing Philip Morris' Knowledge of Nicotine Addiction

Could Have Several Devastating Legal Consequences for Tobacco Industry

Previously-secret documents showing that the Philip Morris was well aware of the highly addictive nature of nicotine, and actually experimented with using different levels of the drug to satisfy smokers, may have some devastating legal consequences for the tobacco industry, says law professor John Banzhaf. Banzhaf is Executive Director of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), a national organization which serves as the legal-action arm of the antismoking community, and which recently filed a complaint against so-called "hidden cigarette commercials on television.

Shortly after the filing, Philip Morris agree to withdraw many of its cigarette advertising signs which were being broadcast into homes. Banzhaf says that the newly-revealed documents provides increased pressure on the Food and Drug Administration to assert jurisdiction over cigarettes, an action which would be based upon a legal precedent ASH established. The documents will also help in the growing number of class-action suits and suits by individual states which claim that cigarette manufacturers should be liable because they deliberately addicted current users.

In other suits the documents could undercut the industry's standard argument that smokers should not be able to recover because their conduct was voluntary, rather than as the result of a powerful addiction. Finally, Banzhaf says, this new evidence might help to persuade a newly-energized Justice Department to bring criminal charges against industry CEOs for lying under oath in congressional testimony when they denied that nicotine is addictive.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, June 8, 1995

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL: JOHN BANZHAF (202) 659-4310

Return to Top

Return to PR List