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New Government Brief Shows Tobacco Lawsuit Can Fundamentally Change Tobacco Industry and Save Lives; Corr Statement 

Two new developments today in the federal government's lawsuit against the tobacco industry underscore the continuing importance of this case and its potential to fundamentally change how the tobacco industry does business and protect public health in the United States.

First, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that it would appeal the recent ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit that disgorgement, or forfeiture, of illegal profits is not an allowable remedy under civil racketeering (RICO) laws . . .

Second, a new government brief filed today makes it clear that there is still a lot at stake in the tobacco lawsuit and it should be pursued aggressively regardless of the eventual outcome on the disgorgement issue. Even if disgorgement is not allowed, the Justice Department has argued persuasively that the trial judge can impose other remedies that would fundamentally reform the tobacco industry's harmful practices and require the industry to pay billions of dollars to fund programs to prevent kids from smoking and help smokers quit. These remedies hold the greatest potential for reducing the death and disease caused by tobacco use in our country, which is what this case should be all about.

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