Tobacco.org

Cigarette packaging misleading, judge says 

A Toronto smoker is responsible for his habit, a judge ruled Tuesday in rejecting his lawsuit against cigarette giant Imperial Tobacco, but agreed that the packaging on so-called "light" cigarettes is misleading.

And that, industry watchdogs say, could force cigarette companies to be more accountable for their labelling.

Justice Pamela Thomson agreed with Joe Battaglia, 59, that figures indicating the toxin levels on packages were misleading because they are calculated by a machine, not by a human smoker, but she said Mr. Battaglia was responsible for his smoking.

"The plaintiff is the only one who has control over how he smokes," Judge Thomson said in her decision. "The only thing he could have done was quit."

Jump to full article »