Only two of original four plaintiffs remain
Jump to full article: Helsingin Sanomat (fi), 2009-09-02
Intro: A case against two tobacco companies brought by Professor Erkki Aurejärvi continues today, Monday, in the Helsinki Court of Appeals.
Originally, four women wanted compensation for harm caused to their health by “light” cigarettes. The diseases included emphysema and lung cancer. Only two them are still seeking damages from two tobacco companies - British American Tobacco Finland and Amer, the latter of which gave up the tobacco business years ago.
One of the plaintiffs died before the district court session, and the other withdrew her appeal last winter for health reasons.
The plaintiffs lost the first round in Helsinki District Court and each of them were ordered to pay EUR 250,000 in court costs.
The appeals court will have to evaluate if the women were aware of the risks that they were taking when they chose to smoke. . . .
Aurejärvi sees the case as the last tobacco trial involving individual plaintiffs. However, the case could lead to class-action suits if the women are even partially successful, Aurejärvi says.
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