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Tobacco executive testifies at trial of Missouri lawsuit 

"I certainly believe smoking has been shown to be a risky behavior," said Nicholas Brookes, chairman of the Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp. "...The statistics are sufficient for us to conclude that smoking causes these diseases."

Brookes' company has been sued in federal court by the family of Charles Steele, who died of lung cancer in 1995 while living in Vandalia, Mo. . . In his testimony Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Brookes pointed to more than $300 million in health research Brown & Williamson has helped to fund with independent scientists since the 1950s. . . Lawyers defending Brown & Williamson rested their case Tuesday afternoon. The jury will return this morning for instructions from the judge and closing arguments.

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The statistics are sufficient for us to conclude that smoking causes these diseases. . . We have a clear responsibility to make cigarettes as safe as we can with the highest possible materials and to the highest possible standards. . . We have a responsibility to understand our product.
Nicholas Brookes, chairman of Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp., testifying at the Steele trial. Quoted in <i>Tobacco executive testifies at trial of Missouri lawsuit</i>