Jump to full article: Associated Press (AP), 2001-04-16
Author: The Associated Press
Intro: The Republic of Ecuador dropped one of its lawsuits against the tobacco industry Monday after a judge said the parties could either voluntarily dismiss it or he would do it himself.
The eight-count suit claimed tobacco companies had unjustly enriched themselves at the expense of Ecuadoran citizens, and that tobacco products are "unfit for safe use when sold and consumed as intended." . .
Steven Marks, one of the attorneys for Ecuador, said he decided to file the voluntary dismissal so that it would not hurt any future lawsuit filed elsewhere.
Marks noted that there is another suit on behalf of Ecuador against the tobacco industry pending before Miami-Dade County judge Margarita Esquiroz.
"The issues are related but there are some differences in the legal theories," Marks said.
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