Tobacco.org

Family's lawsuit against tobacco company comes to trial 

In his opening statement, Cronan quoted from internal tobacco company documents from the 1960s and 1970s. He said the documents acknowledge a link between cancer and tobacco and the addictive qualities of nicotine. At the same time, the tobacco industry was fighting stricter regulation of the industry, Cronan said.

Brown & Williamson "has consciously disregarded the safety of its customers, including Mr. Steele," Cronan said.

McCormick noted, however, that much of what is currently known about tobacco and health is based on early research funded by a tobacco industry research committee to which Brown & Williamson contributed. He pointed to a 1961 compilation of research data funded by the industry that found connections between cancer and tobacco use.

"That's more bad news for cigarette smoking, but the research was paid for by Brown & Williamson and others," McCormick said.

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