Tobacco.org

Asbestos Trust Fund Drops Lawsuit 

A trust representing asbestos workers seeking reimbursement for past claims by sick employees and settlement awards for smokers exposed to asbestos has dropped its lawsuit against the tobacco industry, officials said Friday.

"The plaintiffs apparently realized that it didn't make sense to continue pursuing a lawsuit that had no legal or factual merit," Daniel Donahue, senior vice president for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, said in a news release.

The lawsuit was brought by asbestos workers who wanted the tobacco industry to share the cost of treating patients with cigarette-related illnesses.

A federal judge declared a mistrial in the case on Jan. 25 in New York. At that time, the plaintiffs indicated they would retry the case, but, according to the news release, the trust fund has given up its right to file the lawsuit again in the future.

Jump to full article »