Ruling on $280B RICO claim against tobacco industry [DC Circuit]
USA v. Philip Morris, US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, February 4, 2005 . Excerpt:A group...
Ruling on $280B RICO claim against tobacco industry [DC Circuit]
USA v. Philip Morris, US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, February 4, 2005 . Excerpt:A group...
Federal appeals court says DOJ can't seek $280 billion from tobacco industry
The Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has ruled that federal law does not permit the goverment to seek a $280 billion penalty in its racketeering case against the tobacco industry. In its opinion [PDF...
Environmental brief ~ British company to ban smoking in 650 eateries
In Monday's environmental law news, British company JD Wetherspoon , owner of 650 restaurants and pubs, announced that it will be banning smoking in its establishments, with all of them becoming smoke-free by May 2006. The company has...
Corporations & securities brief ~ SEC considers combined settlement in bond market probe
Leading Thursday's corporations and securities law news, the SEC is considering a combined settlement with several brokerage firms in its probe of the $204 billion auction-rate bond market. The SEC's investigation has uncovered several potential violations related...
Florida appeals court upholds flight attendant's secondhand smoke suit
A Florida appeals court Wednesday upheld a $500,000 lower court verdict in favor of a former TWA flight attendant who had sued tobacco companies for health damage caused by secondhand smoke on airplanes. The case turned on interpretation of...
The Quebec Court of Appeal Tuesday began hearing an appeal challenging the constitutionality of Canada's 1997 Tobacco Act. Lawyers for Canada's three largest tobacco companies told the court that the law, which bans tobacco sponsorship, restricts advertising and requires...
Environmental brief ~ UN allows Greenpeace to speak for first time
In Tuesday's environmental law news, Greenpeace, the international environmental activist group, was allowed to speak for the first time Tuesday before the UN General Assembly. Today is the 10th anniversary of the entry into force of the UN Convention...
The British government unveiled a proposal Tuesday that would ban smoking in most enclosed public areas, including offices, factories, cafes, restaurants and most pubs in England. Only private clubs and pubs that do not serve prepared food would be...
In Friday's environmental law news, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Thompson has announced that starting in January all tobacco will be banned on HHS property. The Department, which has about 66,000 employees, currently bans smoking inside...
The Scottish Executive Wednesday unanimously approved a ban on smoking in enclosed public places. Anti-tobacco and medical groups had urged the ban, claiming that voluntary measures currently in place were ineffective. Similar to those already adopted in Ireland, Norway...