Jump to full article: AP, 2001-03-26
Author: Tom Hays / Associated Press Writer
Intro: The tobacco industry was back on trial Monday . . .
Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield want Philip Morris, R.J. Reynolds and other cigarette makers to pay at least $800 million in damages.
Empire attorney Paul Baschorr called the figure "the pricetag of the defendants' dishonesty."
In opening statements at the fraud trial in federal court, Baschorr said the tobacco industry had "repeatedly lied and deceived the American public" over the last 40 years.
He said the conspiracy had resulted in an avalanche of insurance claims for lung cancer and other smoking-related ailments.
"Now it's Empire's turn to submit a bill to the tobacco industry," Baschorr said.
Tobacco lawyers have said their clients never plotted to hide the hazards of smoking. . .
The case is the second to go to trial out of a backlog of 10 lawsuits brought mostly by third partie
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