Jump to full article: Philip Morris USA, 2009-11-19
Intro: Philip Morris USA (PM USA) filed lawsuits against ten retailers selling counterfeit versions of the company's Marlboro� brand cigarettes in New York and New Jersey.
"The New York metropolitan area continues to be a lucrative market for counterfeit and contraband cigarette smugglers," said Joe Murillo, vice president and associate general counsel, Altria Client Services, speaking on behalf of PM USA. "High excise taxes, coupled with New York state's lack of effective tax enforcement, only makes the problem worse," added Murillo.
"These lawsuits are the latest in a series of filings by Philip Morris USA aimed at combating the sale of counterfeit cigarettes in New York and New Jersey," said Murillo. Since May 2009, Philip Morris has filed lawsuits against 27 retail locations in New York and New Jersey for selling counterfeit Marlboro� brand cigarettes
In addition to violating many trademark laws, counterfeit cigarettes are almost always sold without the appropriate federal and state excise tax. The counterfeit cigarettes purchased from the retailers named in today's suits bore no tax stamp or a counterfeit tax stamp. As a result, the applicable excise taxes were not paid.
. . .
Eastern District of New York
Maria’s Deli Grocery 143-20 101 Avenue, Richmond Hills, NY 11419
Loveras Grocery 996 Nostrand Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11225
Southern District of New York
Aloshe Mini Market 1889 Guerlain Street, Bronx, NY 10461
El Barrio Grocery Deli 39 West 183rd Street, Bronx, NY 10453
Fernandez Grocery Corp. 1665 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029
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