Jump to full article: Canadian Press, 2004-07-21
Author: CANADIAN PRESS
Intro: A Newfoundland law firm has filed a class-action lawsuit against tobacco giant Imperial Tobacco, claiming the Montreal-based company deceived its customers in its marketing for light and mild cigarettes.
"It's on behalf of all those people who, in the belief that light cigarettes were a more healthful alternative, smoked light cigarettes anywhere in the last 30 years or so," lawyer Ches Crosbie said today.
The lawsuit, which is similar to one filed last year in British Columbia, isn't seeking compensation for people who suffered health problems due to smoking.
Instead, the suit is based on Newfoundland's Trade Practices Act, a statute enacted in the 1970s as part of pro-consumer reforms. . . .
Crosbie filed the suit two weeks ago in Newfoundland Supreme Court on behalf of Victor Sparkes of Conception Bay South, Nfld.
Sparkes, a former smoker who kicked the habit four years ago, said he hasn't developed any obvious illnesses as a result of 15 years of smoking.
He said he smoked light cigarettes because he believed it could delay the onset of smoking-related illnesses.
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