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Ex-Tobacco Executive Taking Stand 

Wigand, the vice president for research and development at Brown & Williamson from 1989 until he was fired in 1993, told the jury that his former employer was not only aware of a unhealthy "synergy" between tobacco and asbestos, but hid that knowledge from consumers.

He also detailed a company policy of hiding sensitive documents from possible litigation by shipping them to sister firms in Europe. Lawyers for the firm often vetted scientific documents, deleting "contentious statements." And employees were instructed: "If you are in doubt, verbal communication is probably best."

He said superiors often faxed him documents at home with orders to throw them away once he had read them. A handwritten note on one such document, submitted yesterday as evidence, says, "destroy after reading."

In a contentious cross-examination, which will continue today, Brown & Williamson lawyer David Bernick asserted Wigand was a disgruntled former employee who flip-flopped on prior claims about whether the firm used chemicals like ammonia to increase the amount of nicotine and make cigarettes more addictive.

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